The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) is set to hold a "detailed briefing" to discuss the confirmed bluetongue case today (Monday, January 26).

The emergency meeting meeting follows confirmation on Saturday that an outbreak of bluetongue had been detected in Co. Wexford.

The department said it had detected an animal infected with bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV-3) in a cattle herd.

This finding arose from routine ongoing surveillance carried out by the department as part of efforts to detect the disease as early as possible.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon said: "This is unwelcome news but unfortunately it is not surprising, given the spread of this virus across Europe, Great Britain and recently Northern Ireland."

The department met with farm organisations on Saturday afternoon to discuss the situation.

This will be followed up by a detailed briefing for stakeholders in the farming sector today.

Bluetongue

Bluetongue is a notifiable exotic viral disease caused by bluetongue virus (BTV) which can cause severe clinical signs in ruminant species, such as cattle and sheep, and camelids.

As bluetongue is a notifiable disease, any suspect case of bluetongue must be reported to DAFM without delay.

The department has emphasised that there are "no public health risks associated with bluetongue" as the disease does not affect human health or food safety.

The virus is predominantly is spread by midges, and replication of the virus in infected midges cannot happen when the daily temperatures are lower than 12°C.

"The recent seasonal drop in temperatures means that infection is unlikely to spread widely at the current time," Minister Heydon said.

Investigations into the confirmed case in Co. Wexford are ongoing with additional sampling taking place so the department can "understand the epidemiological situation".

Exports

Minister Heydon said this outbreak will have an impact on exports of cattle and sheep, "with additional costs and logistical issues required in order to comply with the rules set by the countries of destination".

"In respect of meat and dairy products, there are no implications for exports to the EU, UK and to most of our international markets," the minister said.

"My department has been actively negotiating revisions to many trade certs for third countries so that the impact of any outbreak would be minimised, and that work will continue after this news," he added.

The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) said it is "critical" that everything is done to prevent bluetongue from spreading.

IFA president Francie Gorman said the case of bluetongue confirmed in Co. Wexford is "very disappointing".

Gorman said that the "highest level of vigilance is needed across the sector".

Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association (ICMSA) president Denis Drennan said it is "hugely important" that everyone works together to contain the outbreak "as much as possible and that every support is given to farmers impacted by bluetongue".

The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers' Association (ICSA) also said it is "acutely disappointed" that bluetongue has been detected in Co. Wexford.

In relation to live exports, the association said it is "hoping to get further clarity on what this will mean on Monday when DAFM is set to further update farming organisations".