§ Mr. GillTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases of BSE have been identified in imported cattle. [14773]
§ Mrs. BrowningWe have confirmed BSE in 10 animals imported from other member states. No cases have been recorded from other countries. It is possible that all but one of these animals were infected with BSE in the UK. There is only one case where infection in the country of origin seems probable, its period of residence in the United Kingdom being too short to permit development of disease.
A further imported case is currently under investigation.
143W
§ Mr. GillTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many instances of BSE in cattle have been reported in the Irish Republic in each of the past 10 years. [14772]
§ Mrs. Browningthe number of confirmed cases of BSE in cattle reported in the Republic of Ireland since the first case was reported is:
Year Confirmed cases of BSE 1989 15 1990 14 1991 17 1992 18 1993 16 1994 19 1995 16 1996 73 Total 188
§ Mr. GillTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what control measures to ensure that
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 Anthrax1 2 2 3 1 3 Avian Influenza2 1 0 0 0 0 Contagious Equine Metritis1 0 0 0 0 14 Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy 36,682 34,370 23,994 14,298 37,202 Brucellosis 0 1 0 0 0 Enzootic Bovine Leukosis 4 63 26 7 5 Equine Viral Arteritis 0 0 0 0 1 Paramyxovirus of pigeons2 157 103 36 26 22 Newcastle Disease2 0 0 0 0 1 Rabies 0 0 0 0 4 Scrapie 5— 327 199 163 3207 Tuberculosis (in cattle)6 155 274 362 449 7— Tuberculosis (in Deer)6 1 1 1 2 7— Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (in rabbits)1 2 10 200 512 8269 Warble Fly 0 0 0 2 0 1 Figures denote number of outbreaks which may involve more than one animal. 2 Figures denote outbreaks in flocks which may involve more than one bird. 3 Provisional. 4 One case of European Bat Lyssavirus 2 which did not affect the UK's status as a rabies free country. 5 Scrapie only became a notifiable disease on 1 January 1993. 6 Figures denote confirmed herd breakdowns which may involve more than one animal. 7 Figures not available until June 1997. 8 Viral haemorrhagic disease of rabbits ceased to be a notifiable disease on 21 October 1996.