Badger vaccine soon for fight against TB

It is now accepted that the presence of an infected maintenance host, the badger, is a major constraint to the final eradication of tuberculosis from the national herd.

That's what Minister Joe Walsh has told Cork Green Party TD Dan Boyle in a Dáil reply to a question seeking his views on a description of his Department's tuberculosis eradication scheme as "a cruel slaughter of badgers, masquerading as science".

Deputy Boyle also asked Minister Walsh if he will review the policy in favour of more scientific and more compassionate methods to prevent the spread of tuberculosis.