In December, Agriland asked the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), in the event of a bluetongue outbreak in the Republic of Ireland, what implications this would have for cattle exports and what movement restrictions would be put in place for livestock.

This morning (Saturday, January 24) the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon confirmed that an outbreak of bluetongue has been detected in Co. Wexford.

He said in a statement that: "My department has detected a bovine infected with bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV-3) in a herd in Co. Wexford."

Livestock trade

Ahead of the first confirmed bluetongue case in the Republic of Ireland, a spokesperson from the department explained to Agriland that in the event of a confirmed outbreak of bluetongue in Ireland, livestock trade with other EU member states "would be subject to strict additional measures".

According to DAFM, these additional measures include:

Additional quarantine;
Serological or PCR testing;
Vaccination against the relevant serotype of bluetongue, or set animal age limits.

DAFM also said that exports of livestock to third countries "generally require a 12 or 24-month country freedom from bluetongue without providing options for mitigating measures in the event of a confirmed outbreak".

DAFM explained in December that in the event of an outbreak of bluetongue occurring in Ireland, "control measures would need to be introduced to try and eradicate the disease".

The DAFM spokesperson told Agriland in December that: "Restriction zones may be established around the affected premises which would extend for a minimum of 20km in radius, with the introduction of movement controls for susceptible animals.

"Movements of animals outside of the restriction zone would require a department [DAFM] licence and be limited to movements of animals directly to slaughter and for limited welfare reasons."

Stay tuned to Agriland for further updates from this story as it unfolds.