16/10/2003

NSENI issue cattle disease guidelines

The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) has issued a set of guidelines concerning the cattle disease, Brucellosis.

Produced by the Brucellosis Advisory Group, the new booklet provides information about symptoms and access to treatment as well as good practice on how to minimise the risk of infection.

It is especially relevant to cattle farmers, their employees, their families, cattle hauliers, vets, livestock inspectors and abattoir workers.

Terry Chambers, Head of HSENI’s Agricultural Group and Chairman of the Brucellosis Advisory Group said: “The specialist knowledge and experience of the members of the Group has been brought together to produce this comprehensive yet very readable booklet.

"It will provide those most at risk from brucellosis with the necessary information to protect themselves and others from the disease.”

Brucellosis is a cattle disease which, under certain circumstances of close contact, can spread to people. It causes ‘flu like symptoms but is more severe and prolonged, however it cannot be spread between humans.

In 2002 there were 28 reported cases of human brucellosis in Northern Ireland.

Many of these recent cases are farmers who became infected through contact with infected animals.

(MB)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

27 September 2001
Dairy herd slaughtered because Institute failed to carry out tests
A dairy herd worth £1.3 million was slaughtered because the Agricultural Research Unit in Northern Ireland has failed to carry out disease tests on cattle, according to a report by the Northern Ireland Audit Office.
18 August 2014
New Beef Regulations To Open Markets For NI Farmers
Northern Ireland beef processors will be able to label meat imported from the Republican of Ireland 'Irish', in a bid to increase 'single origin' labeling for the British and European market, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has said.
07 October 2010
SF Seek Disease-Free Farm Environment
Sinn Fein wants Ireland to be free - free of the highly contagious cattle disease, brucellosis. A delegation of farmers' representatives from both sides of the border has just met with the Sinn Fein Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) in the Stormont Assembly, Michelle Gildernew.
11 January 2019
Firefighters Rescue 39 Bulls From Overturned Cattle Lorry
Firefighters have rescued 39 bulls from an overturned cattle lorry following an incident in County Fermanagh. The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) attended the scene on the Cavan Road, Newtownbutler after a one vehicle collision occurred shortly before 6.30am on Friday 11 January.
23 September 2013
9,000 Cattle Reported Lost Or Stolen In Last 3 Years
An Ulster Unionist member of Stormont's Agriculture Committee has warned that organised crime gangs may be involved with the theft of cattle across Northern Ireland. Robin Swann was speaking after it was revealed to him that over the last three years, there have been almost 9,000 cattle reported as missing or stolen.