Progress in eradicating TB, brucellosis
She said the number of reactors had declined steadily from 45,000 in 1998 to under 28,000 last year - the lowest number in the last 20 years. The number of reactors should not exceed 25,000 this year, she added.
In relation to Brucellosis, Ms Coughlan said the number of laboratory positives had fallen from 6,417 in 1998 to 900 last year. In the same period, the number of cattle slaughtered under the programme fell from 20,600 to 14,700. A further reduction of 30% is expected.
