500 cattle killed after brucellosis outbreak

Nine herds of cattle on farms in counties Cavan and Longford have been slaughtered because of a brucellosis outbreak.

The Department of Agriculture said a total of 500 animals tested positive to the disease and had to be slaughtered.

The Department said it had restricted the movement of 13 other herds which were in close proximity to the infected animals. Veterinary officials were said to be closely monitoring the animals in these herds.

A Department spokesman told ireland.comthe measures were precautionary but necessary. He said the Department was not overly alarmed by the outbreak but conceded it was a serious problem for the region itself.

He said the State had a disease free status in relation to brucellosis and the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Joe Walsh wanted to keep it that way.