The number of TB reactors reached 17,491 at the end of 2018, according to the Department of Agriculture.

It’s the highest number since 2012 and the Department stated that the higher TB levels were due to more rigorous testing using gamma interferon (GIF) blood testing.

The Department said that GIF testing accounted for over one fifth of reactors last year.

New TB restrictions in the last 12 months Q4 2018 / Department of Agriculture

The level of TB has remained static in most parts of the country.

However, Cork north and Monaghan have seen significant increases.

National average

The national average of TB herd incidence was 3.51%, but Cork north’s herd incidence reached 5.66% last year, while Monaghan’s herd incidence was 8.91%.

“Cork north had the highest number of reactors at 2,086, Monaghan had the second highest at 1,677, followed by Tipperary north with 1,296 reactors,” the Department stated.

Overall, the number of herds with TB decreased marginally by 1,592 to 112,102 herds.

The Department stated that more needed to be done to tackle TB, particularly due to the risk national herd becoming more dairy-orientated with a bigger herd size.

It also pointed out that action was needed, as EU funding to reduce the disease was decreasing and that export market trade depended on a clean bill of herd health.

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