50 veterinary practices have applied for bluetongue serotype-3 (BTV 3) vaccine licences to date.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has confirmed to Agriland that 26 licences have been issued, with the other 24 in progress.

Veterinary practices and wholesalers can apply to the department for BTV-3 vaccine licences. 7 wholesaler licences have been issued so far.

In December, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon announced that the use of bluetongue vaccination will be permitted in cattle and sheep in Ireland in 2026.

This followed the recent detection of outbreaks of BTV-3 in Northern Ireland.

Bluetongue

An outbreak of BTV-3 was confirmed in a cattle herd in Co. Wexford on January 23.

It was detected through the culled cow routine surveillance carried out by DAFM in a slaughterhouse.

This marked the first occurrence of bluetongue infection in a homebred animal in Ireland.

The department has said that investigations are ongoing and additional surveillance is being carried out in the area.

On Wednesday, it was confirmed that the bluetongue virus had been identified in three more herds in Co. Wexford.

Across the four herds, a total of 11 animals have found to be infected with the disease to date.

Vaccine

The department is advising cattle and sheep farmers who are concerned about the risk of bluetongue to discuss with their vet about whether the use of BTV-3 vaccines is the right choice for their circumstances.

DAFM said that BTV-3 vaccines do not fully stop infection/disease but "greatly reduce viremia and severity of clinical symptoms".

There are three BTV-3 vaccines approved for use in the EU, which can be used in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland currently.

These are: Syvazul BTV 3 (sheep); Bluevac 3 (sheep and cattle) and Bultavo 3 (sheep and cattle).

The department said the duration of the immunity period guaranteed in the specifications of these vaccines has not been determined to date. Therefore, vaccination cannot currently be used to meet EU standard certification requirements.

DAFM

The department has again reiterated that there are no public health risks associated with bluetongue. The disease does not affect human health or food safety.

DAFM has said that movement of livestock from farm to farm and from farm to slaughter, including those through marts, can continue as the current cold temperatures prevent the virus, which is transmitted between infected animals by midges, from replicating.

Exports of livestock to certain EU member states and third countries (outside the EU) will be affected now that Ireland has lost the BTV free status.

The department has said that movements of livestock to Northern Ireland and Britain are not allowed, other than directly to slaughter.

Irish beef exports to China, which had only resumed earlier this month, have been suspended again due to the detection of bluetongue here.