A second emergency meeting is to be held by the Department of Agriculture to discuss the first detected case of the bluetongue virus in the Republic.
The impact that the case, identified in a herd of cattle in Co Wexford, will have on the Irish livestock export market is expected to become clearer at the meeting.
It is understood that the case was detected on a farm in the east of the county.
Sources have stressed the near impossibility for any farmer to fully prevent one of their livestock from becoming infected by the virus, as it is spread by midges.
The small fly-like insects bite an infected animal before passing it onto the next one they bite.
Given that bluetongue has already spread across Europe, Britain and recently Northern Ireland, Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon said yesterday's development is "unwelcome" but not surprising.
No risk to human health
Bluetongue is an animal disease that can cause severe illness in livestock, such as cattle and sheep, but also in goats, deer and llamas.
It does not pose any risk to human health or food safety.
However, it will affect live exports of cattle and sheep to some countries outside of the EU that require Ireland to have a disease-free status.
This will see such live exports to smaller markets, such as the UAE, suspended for 12 months.
The virus is only spread through midges when it is warmer than 12 degrees Celsius.
Therefore, it is hoped that the current cooler winter temperatures will prevent bluetongue from spreading widely here.
However, Minister Heydon has said that the risk of infection will increase from April when temperatures begin to climb.
Mr Heydon also said testing for the virus was being carried out "at a very high level" and that the detection in Co Wexford came as a result of routine surveillance.
He said that the positive test was found in a sample taken from a slaughtered animal.
"It has been identified, we are tracing back to that herd. We thankfully have excellent traceability across our herd and the epidemiological tests of all of those animals that were in the same herd in that area and beyond will continue."
Minister Heydon said the exports of live cattle and sheep from Ireland would be affected but the sale of meat and dairy products to most overseas markets would continue.
Farmers should be vigilant
Irish Farmers' Association Deputy President Alice Doyle, who is a farmer in north Wexford, has urged farmers to be vigilant.
She said: "Our main message to farmers is that it is very worrying, but it is not a panic situation.
"We know that there is an outbreak on one farm in Wexford that has been picked up under routine testing. It has been contained on that farm, and the department are keeping a very close eye on it.
"Our second message to all farmers - livestock farmers and sheep farmers - is to check your livestock on a regular basis for any signs or symptoms that might be related to bluetongue.
"If you are at all worried, contact your vet and have it confirmed or proven that it is not there."
Animal Health Rep with IFA Wexford Pat Murray said his thoughts and the thoughts of the entire association go out to the affected farmer in Co Wexford.
He added: "I need to send out a clear message that our live exports are OK.
"We're coming into a very important time of the year with a lot of farmers calving. There could be up to a million calves born, and farmers are worried.
"But from the department and what we are clearly seeing is that we will be allowed to export animals."
The emergency meeting was scheduled for this morning.
Department of Agriculture veterinary officials and stakeholders, including farming organisations, will be among those joining the online meeting.
