IFA President Padraig Walshe has requested that all farmers maintain the highest levels of vigilance following confirmation today from DEFRA that Bluetongue is circulating in East Anglia and the disease has been upgraded to outbreak status.

Padraig Walshe said the clear focus for Ireland must be to remain both Bluetongue and foot and mouth disease free. Mr Walshe stressed that Minister for Agriculture; Mary Coughlan must ensure that a very high level of biosecurity is applied at all points of entry into the country.

Mr Walshe said "the source of this outbreak of Bluetongue in northern Europe last August remains unknown. However , one possibility being examined by the EU Commission is the transportation of infected midges in cargoes that arrived in or around the Maastricht area before the first reported case ".

The IFA president said "as Ireland's island location is further north and west in the Atlantic, it provides a potential barrier that the Department of Agriculture must actively harness in a determined strategy to keep this country Bluetongue free. Keeping Ireland Bluetongue free is a huge prize for the livestock industry that the Minister must strive for ".

Irelands prevailing winds play an important role in significantly reduces the risk of windborne spread of the disease to the island. Easterly and south-easterly winds account for less than 25% of winds recorded in Ireland.

The IFA President said, " Cargos originating in Bluetongue restricted areas pose a high risk to the health status of this country. The Department should urgently undertake a risk analysis of higher risk cargoes coming into Ireland from regions such as the Netherlands and Belgium to see whether insecticide treatments or other measures would reduce the risk of importing the disease ".

Mr Walshe said " with an €8bn agric-food export sector from Ireland, the implications of a Class A disease outbreak are much more serious for Ireland than for the UK ". Padraig Walshe reminded farmers to continue vigilant stock checks and report any suspicions without hesitation.

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