The number of TB reactors has hit its highest level in over a decade, as the latest Department of Agriculture figures show disease trends continue to deteriorate.

Some 21,289 cattle were identified as TB reactors in the 12 months to September 2020.

In that time, 4,492 herds had TB restrictions imposed on them, with 2,813 farm families still locked up.

The national herd incidence, which records the number of herds tested in the last 12 months that experience a new TB breakdown, is 4.25%.

Herd incidence is now at its highest level since 2012 and reactor numbers are at 2009 rates.

Some 21,289 cattle were identified as TB reactors in the 12 months to September 2020

TB levels reached a historic low in 2016, but have been gradually increasing since. The Department warns that the pace of deterioration has accelerated in 2020.

The highest levels of TB are in the northeast of Ireland, including counties Monaghan, Cavan, Louth and north Meath. Parts of Clare, Galway and Wicklow are also experiencing elevated levels of TB.

In a bid to tackle the worst hit areas, ‘high impact TB control plans’ have been rolled out in Monaghan, parts of Cavan, Meath, Louth, Westmeath, Offaly, Cork and Clare.

The above map shows the level of new restrictions in the 12 months to the end of September 2020. \ DAFM

Costs

The Department has also published a detailed breakdown of its spending on TB for the first nine months of the year.

So far, it has spent €32m, an increase of €6.5m (24%) on the same period last year.

One of the main spending areas is farmer compensation, with €11.4m paid to farmers for reactors, €2.8m in other compensation such as hardship grants and €0.5m to valuers. Testing is the other significant spend.

Vets have been paid €7.2m, while €3.7m has been spent acquiring supplies such as the testing agent tuberculin.

The remaining spend was on wildlife control (€3.8m), and research (€1.6m).