Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 1157: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food further to Parliamentary Question No. 377 of 27 June 2006 regarding equine infectious anaemia, if she will furnish a response to the issues raised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28403/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

In my reply on 27th June, I indicated that my Department's initial focus was on the containment and immediate eradication of the disease. This still remains the case.

All of the confirmed cases are being epidemiologically investigated and the circumstances in which the disease was first introduced into the country is also the subject of a thorough and on-going investigation. At this stage it can be stated that twenty of the current twenty-four cases fall within a group of horses identified by the Department as being at particularly high-risk. There are still a small number of horses in this category which are alive and which are, consequently under very close surveillance and subject to an intensive serological testing regime. Investigations are continuing in relation to the four other cases and tentative links exist between them and other cases.

My Department is working closely with the various elements of the industry and the veterinary profession to contain and eradicate the disease as quickly as possible.

Until such time as the investigations referred to above are completed, it remains inappropriate for me to comment any further on the issues raised by the Deputy.