The mild and wet weather of the past few months has led to the high-risk fluke forecast issued this Monday.

The fluke parasite is transmitted through mud snails, which tend to be located in slightly acidic and muddy conditions. Areas with rushes are a particularly common location where mud snails can be found.

The immediate advice from Department vets to farmers in high-risk areas or with a history of fluke is to devise a prevention programme with their vet. This includes appropriate dosing depending on the time of year when treatments are given. “When treating in the autumn or early winter, treatment should be directed at all stages of the liver fluke (early, immature and mature stages),” the Department advises. “Later in the winter when animals are housed, treatment can be more directed towards mature stages.”

Repeat treatments should also be directed by a vet as resistance to dosing is becoming an increasing problem.

As a longer-term control option, where feasible, the Department recommends fencing off or draining wet, muddy areas containing clumps of rushes as they are habitats for the contaminating snails.

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