The Department of Agriculture has ramped up its preparations for a potential bluetongue outbreak in Ireland.

It is developing an action plan in the event of an incursion of the disease and has carried out a number of simulation exercises, where different aspects of responding to an outbreak are examined.

“These discussions are an ongoing part of the Department’s preparations for exotic disease incursions,” a Department spokesperson told the Irish Farmers Journal.

“In addition, a joint north/south desktop exercise on bluetongue was carried out at a meeting in Newry between the Department and the Northern Irish Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.”

Vaccination would be an important tool in managing bluetongue disease if it were to spread to Ireland, the Department said.

“There are three vaccines available for the strain of bluetongue which is most widespread in England and France, BTV3.

“If an outbreak of BTV3 were to spread in Ireland, it is likely that the Department would authorise the use of BTV3 vaccines as part of its response.”

The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) has approved one such vaccine for use already – Bultavo 3 – for cattle and sheep. A licence for the vaccine was issued in April by the HPRA.

The vaccine prevents clinical signs of the bluetongue virus.

Imports

The Department took action in November 2023 in order to stop the risk of infected animals, semen or embryos entering Ireland. No bluetongue-susceptible animals may enter Ireland from Britain.

“No bluetongue-susceptible animals have entered Ireland from Europe at all since last summer, but if any do, Department officials will immediately check and blood test them, and if positive they will be culled,” it stated.

The Department is engaged in ongoing surveillance so as to detect any incursions as soon as possible, should they occur.

“A selection of cattle herds along the east coast have been blood sampled; samples are taken from culled cattle; and submissions to the regional veterinary laboratories are all being tested. To date, all such samples were negative. The Department is also working with Met Éireann tracking wind patterns to understand where midges from England or France might be blown to target additional surveillance activities.”