Farmers put on botulism alert

FARMERS and vets have been put on alert for botulism in cattle. But the public has been assured that risks to human health from milk or meat are remote.

The condition has been confirmed in a West Waterford herd, and the number of cases reported to the Department of Agriculture and Food from around the country has increased in recent months. This rare disease has also been reported in Northern Ireland, Britain and across Europe.

Caused by a bacterium of the Clostridia family, botulism is widely distributed in nature but only occasionally gives rise to clinical disease in animals or humans.