Ireland’s TB Eradication Policy

1. Ireland’s TB Eradication Policy • Margaret Good SSVI

2. Topics • History Programme • Recap (where we’ve been) • Current programme (where we are) • Future (where we are going)

3. Recap • Programme commenced 1950 • Herd and individual animal identification since then • Initial good progress before ‘stall’ • Many reviews essentially all expressing incredulity that the programme that worked elsewhere in Europe wasn’t working in Ireland – the recommendations reflected the belief that it must be that something involving the tuberculin test itself wasn’t being done right!! • ERAD - established

4. LESSONS LEARNEDby ERAD & Conclusions • All Programme Elements recommended by any ‘experts’ have been tried and evaluated over the past eighteen years – and • many retained as cost effective control measures • Others have been quietly allowed to lapse • Measures determined ineffective will not be re-incorporated unless the situation changes • Most current Programme Elements have been optimised • The requirement for a Lab based screening test is primarily socio-economic (not now seen as a constraint to eradication) • Wildlife resevoir recognised as the primary remaining constraint to progress

5. Constraint to Progress • Primarily it would appear that the existence of an infected wildlife source in which infection with M. bovis is endemic and which share the environment with cattle is the main constraint to sustainable progress. • Evidenced by EOP and confirmed by 4-area study

6. Realistic ExpectationsERAD ‘End of Term Review’ of Percieved Constraints • Need for Comprehensive Computer Movement Control System √ √ CMMS However little or no apparent effect on disease control (tracing faster) • Need for Lab based Diagnostic Test √ γ- IFN No change in primary use of Field Screening Test SICTT shown to work very effectively where wildlife removed and R factor reduced below 1 • Need for Vaccine to address the Wildlife Problem -> considerable investment Substantive Progress being made

7. Irelands Strategy • R & D • Address the Wildlife Constraint • Improve efficacy of Bovine TB Eradication • Operate lowest cost interim effective strategy consistent with the goal of Eradication • Use improved tools as they become available & thereby • Accelerate the Eradication Programme

8. the development of a vaccine for use in badgers is a long term control measure aimed at the protection of badgers in known areas of high risk in which other control measures are also in place the primary aim of a strategic vaccination programme is to limit the severity of tuberculosis in badgers so exposed so as to reduce the risk of infectivity for otheranimals, viz. badgers, deer and cattle Badger Vaccination Strategy

9. Tuberculosis in Cattle – outbreak investigation

10. ERAD TB Research • Wildlife • Contribution assessment • EOP & 4-Area study √√√√√ • Vaccine Development Project √√√ • Badger Population and ecology studies√√√ • Diagnostic • Blood testing – gIFN, ELISA, LPA, other√√ • Strain typing √√ • Tuberculin Potency & Comparison Trials√√√√ • Epidemiology/Data Analysis • CVERA√√√√ • Other • Genetics√ • TB in other species Deer, Alpaca, Sheep√√

11. Routine Programme elements Disease Detection – • Annual Test – SICCT all herds & all animals • Slaughter checks – under DAF control • Tracing • Backward to identify source of infection &detect ‘Bought-in’ reactors • Onward to identify other risk herds Identified risk animals moved from infected herds • Extra Diagnostics = IFN-γ Assay, AnELISA

12. Restriction of herd Isolation and removal of identified risk animals Removal co-ordinated and arranged by DAF Cleanse & Disinfect, as appropriate ‘Quarantine’ Confine & Remove

13. ‘Treatment’ of ‘infected’ herd • Testing programme – including supplementary tests as necessary • Epidemiological investigation, as appropriate • Advice to Keeper – Animal Health and Public Health • Compensation – individual animal ceiling • Seek to establish source(s) of infection & Wildlife Investigation if implicated • Return to trade only in compliance with Directive

14. Investigate close contact risk herds Targeted risk-based testing for • Contiguous herd • Associated herds

15. Tuberculosis in Cattle – Geographic Distribution ~ 66% of reactors were disclosed in herds in ~ 30% of the agricultural land WU Task = where badgers are confirmed as possibly a factor the local density will be reduced subject to two important constraints. There is likely to be a higher cull in the 30% of the country where TB is consistently recurring in the cattle herds, than in the remaining 70% of the country (targeted intervention policy) A minimum of 70% of the Jan 2004 estimated of the national population of badgers will be retained. In the years 1998 - 2000 ,

16. Implement system of QC on various aspects of programme • Computerisation • Data Collection • Tuberculin • Test systems/procedures • Operatives • Identity & database (Tags/CMMS)

17. Programme Evaluation • Programme effectiveness • Programme delivery/efficiency • Doing the ‘right’ things • Are our original objectives still valid? • Is there any new/additional knowledge? • Are there new/additional tools? • Are all the actions/activities still necessary – cost/benefit? • Can we achieve objectives in more efficient/effective ways? • Is what we are doing going to deliver on our goals in the most efficient manner? • Doing things ‘right’ • Carrying out all determined functions in most efficient way? • Value for Money Audit

18. Improved Tools • Using GIS technology to focus resources according to risk • Using computer technology and linking databases to manage programme efficiently and gather data for further studies.