Cold blast could spell the end for deadly bluetongue

A SPELL of sharp cold weather could help prevent the spread of deadly bluetongue virus from Britain to Ireland, experts suggested yesterday.

Bluetongue is a disease of animals. It does not affect humans. This is a disease of ruminants, including sheep, cattle, deer, camelids and goats. It is transmitted by the movement of midges, which are most active in warm and humid conditions, or by movements of infected animals if they are subsequently bitten by midges.

Britain’s first case of the disease was confirmed in a cow at Ipswich at the weekend, adding a further worry to vets and farmers trying to prevent the spread of foot and mouth disease in Surrey.

Fine Gael agriculture, fisheries and food spokesman Michael Creed, said a national biosecurity committee must be set up here in light of the threats to Irish agriculture from bluetongue and foot and mouth disease.

“This is all the more relevant where bluetongue is concerned as its spread across Europe is thought to be the result of global warming. It begs the question what other previously unknown threats may be following it.

“Changing environmental conditions present issues for both livestock and public health and such a committee could ensure we have the highest level of biosecurity, the most up-to-date scientific data and the expertise to prepare for emerging risks,” he said.

Mr Creed said the bluetongue virus could literally be the final straw for the Irish sheep industry if it spreads here. He urged the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to include an information leaflet on bluetongue with single farm payment circulars, in tandem with the advice provided on its website.

“Vigilance on the part of farmers is a vital component in biosecurity measures, but without adequate information they will not be able to play their part,” he said.

Mr Creed said with a suspected seventh case of foot and mouth disease on the Hampshire-Sussex border, biosecurity must take centre stage in Ireland with a view to preventing the spread of animal diseases from Britain.

Labour Party spokesman on agriculture and food Sean Sherlock, TD, said the spread of bluetongue from continental Europe to Britain was a matter of serious concern for Irish farmers and all those dependent on agriculture.

Coming within 24 hours of another confirmed outbreak of foot and mouth, the latest development must raise serious concerns about the adequacy of animal disease preventative measures in Britain, he said.

Mr Sherlock said that Irish agriculture, given the level of trade between this country and Britain, is vulnerable to such diseases being carried across the Irish Sea. Measures to prevent this must be intensified, he said.

Irish Farmers’ Association President Padraig Walshe said the case of bluetongue in Britain and the latest outbreak of foot and mouth disease reinforced the need for the highest levels of vigilance across the island of Ireland.

Stressing that the clear focus for Ireland must be to remain foot and mouth and bluetongue free, he said Agriculture

Minister Mary Coughlan must ensure that a high level of biosecurity is maintained at all points of entry into the country.

“With an €8 billion agri-food export sector from this country, the implications of a serious disease outbreak are much more serious for Ireland than Britain,” he said.

Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association president Malcolm Thompson said the bluetongue case in Britain was worrying.

“If it spreads to Ireland, it would have an extremely negative impact on Irish meat exports,” he said.