Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 281: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the extent to which she has examined the cause or causes of occurrences of suspected cases of swamp fever here; the way this might have happened; the way it could be prevented; the action taken to prevent a recurrence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6903/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Twenty-eight cases of Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA) have been confirmed in Ireland, the most recent on 10 December 2006. Most of the cases were concentrated, with some exceptions, in the Meath/Kildare/Dublin area with all but three of the cases in thoroughbred horses. 73 days have now elapsed since the last case, significantly longer than the interval between any two other cases.

A thorough investigation has been carried out in relation to all of the cases and at this stage, my Department is satisfied, based on the significant epidemiological data gathered, that all of the cases can be associated back to events related directly or indirectly to the initial outbreak and is further satisfied that there are veterinary treatment linkages in a number of these cases.

My Department is also continuing to progress its epidemiological investigation into the circumstances in which the disease was first introduced into the country as part of which officials have travelled overseas to consult with international colleagues. This investigation is a comprehensive one and an extensive amount of information has been gathered. That information is currently being assessed. It is not possible, at this stage, to say when the investigation will be concluded other than to say that it remains my position, and that of my Department, that if sufficient evidence is gathered to support a prosecution, we will seek to have the case prosecuted through the Courts. I do not intend to comment any further on the matter at this stage.

At one time or another movement restrictions were placed on 53 separate premises, of which only six remain in place. Two of these are due for de-restriction within days. Assuming no further cases, the last of the restricted premises will be de-restricted by the middle of March, on completion of the necessary testing regime. In all, movement restrictions were imposed on over 1200 individual horses, (the majority of them on their home premises) where their owners were advised by the Department to ensure that they were isolated from contact with other horses. Most of these restrictions have now been lifted and all outstanding restrictions are scheduled to be lifted by mid-March, assuming no new developments.

Between the Irish Equine Centre (IEC) and the Departments Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL), over 42,000 samples have been tested for EIA, with still just the twenty-eight positive cases confirmed to-date. Since the beginning of January, the IEC has tested in excess of 14,000 samples, illustrating clearly the level of compliance in the industry with the recommendation of the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association published in their Codes of Practice for 2007. It's estimated that a further 8,000-10,000 blood samples will be tested by the end of March, bringing to approximately 50,000 the number sampled since the initial outbreak in June 2006.

It remains the case that any horse owners whose horse(s) shows any clinical symptoms suggestive of EIA should immediately contact their private veterinary practitioner and have arrangements made to have the horse sampled and the sample analysed for the disease.

Further to its advice to horse owners, my Department is, in view of the apparent veterinary association in a number of the cases, reiterating the advice, consistently given over the past five months, that veterinary practitioners should, at all times, observe the highest standards of hygiene and should ensure that, in all circumstances, contaminated veterinary instruments are either appropriately disposed of or thoroughly sterilised (autoclaved) before reuse.

From the outset, we have treated the outbreak of EIA very seriously and have devoted considerable resources in the drive to contain and eradicate the disease and these efforts will continue. On-going vigilance will be necessary to ensure the ultimate eradication of the disease and we will continue to work closely with the various elements of the industry, including the breeding, racing, sports horse and sales sectors and are committed to the maintenance of complete confidence in the industry.

The combination of having had over 14,000 negative test results in January alone, along with the completion of the targeted surveillance programme, has significantly extended my Department's surveillance net and, with a further 8,000-10,000 samples to be tested before the end of March, is providing increasing confidence to the Irish and international equine communities that this outbreak is being contained and very good progress being made towards its eradication. The lengthening intervals between cases over the past three months, and in particular the period to have elapsed since the most recent case, give further comfort and reassurance that the situation in now stable and that the outbreak has been contained.