The number of TB reactors has surged by just over 20% since 2013, according to the most recent statistics from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

To date this year, some 7,703 reactors have been recorded, marking a 12% increase from the same period last year.

The herd incidence and average per thousand rates have also risen marginally to 2.88% and 1.79 respectively.

Monaghan had the highest number of reactors with 894, followed by north Cork with 642 and Clare with 635.

The number of cattle tested across the country has increased by 6% since 2013.

High numbers of reactors have been consistently reported in TB blackspots such as Wicklow and Clare. In Waterford and Kerry, reactor numbers jumped by 86% and 24% respectively after outbreaks.

A number of factors are thought to contribute to the spread of TB, including farm and wild animal movement.

Badger vaccinations

The Department of Agriculture has launched a badger vaccination programme to help combat the spread of TB, with some 799 badgers vaccinated last year.

Vaccinations were carried out in Kilkenny, Waterford, Louth, Longford, Tipperary, Galway, Cork and Monaghan.

A project is also under way to implement nationwide badger vaccinations by 2022, with the programme expected to cost in the region of €4.3m per year.

Vaccinations are undertaken by Department staff, with the support of roughly 100 workers recruited from the Farm Relief Service.

“The intention is to have the full-rollout of the vaccination programme completed by 2022, and by then to have the numbers of badgers being culled each year reduced to below 1,000,” a Department spokesperson stated.

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