Coughlan calls for final push on brucellosis
Earlier this week, the minister welcomed a further reduction in brucellosis levels.
Ms Coughlan said the dramatic reduction in the incidence of brucellosis noted in 2005 was being maintained into 2006. The 2005 figures showed that, across the main indicators such as the number of blood positives, depopulations etc, the incidence of the disease had fallen by over 60% compared with 2004.
In the first three months of 2006, the number of blood positives has fallen by a further 25%. No herds were depopulated during this period this year compared with six in the same period last year.
Ms Coughlan said this improvement was due to a number of factors not least of which was the full co-operation of all stakeholders with an effective eradication regime. This included a comprehensive testing and depopulation regime, a crackdown on illegal cattle movements, the regulation of dealers, prosecutions for breaches and the imposition of penalties for failure to comply with animal disease and identification regulations.
Ms Coughlan said brucellosis levels were at an all-time low and the ultimate goal of eradication is at last a realistic prospect.
However, for this to be achieved, she said it is essential to retain all aspects of the existing intensive programme. In addition, it is more important than ever that farmers should continue to adopt appropriate replacement policies and implement effective bio-security measures. She stressed that if farmers had to replace stock, they should buy it from known sources.
Ms Coughlan said in light of the dramatic progress in reducing the incidence of brucellosis, she was satisfied it can be eradicated in the short-term. She said she was grateful for the co-operation of all of the parties who had contributed to the success to date and was confident their ongoing co-operation would result in the eventual eradication of a disease which had created so much difficulty.
