Blue Ear Disease, which affects swine, has been identified on eight farms in Co Cork, the Department of Agriculture has confirmed. Veterinary experts are carrying out tests on pigs in adjoining farms.
The disease, which will ultimately kill a pig which catches it, is normally spread by moving infected stock. The infected animals will be destroyed and restrictions placed on the farms involved to prevent the spread of the disease, which is notifiable. There were three outbreaks in the north-east last year.
