Epidemiological Investigation of Chronic Bovine Tuberculosis Herd Breakdowns in Northern Ireland

Abstract

Northern Ireland has a comprehensive bTB programme which faces many challenges. The main subject of this dissertation, chronic bTB herds, is one such example, bringing together many factors which interact in a complex manner providing a difficult backdrop in which to apply control policies. The challenges faced include insufficiencies in diagnostic techniques, programme fatigue among farmers who feel a lack of empowerment about their circumstances and an agricultural industry evolving in ways which potentially make disease control more difficult. However, even though the challenges are great it will only be through logical and well thought out science, including social science, that bTB eradication can be achieved.