Opposition TDs take issue with Government's badger-culling programme
Pádraic Fogarty, ecologist and TJ Maher, Chair of the IFA's Animal Health Committee, debate the need to cull wild badgers as part of efforts to prevent the spread of TB in cattle.
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Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Irish Examiner
US defunding puts fight against AIDS, TB and malaria in jeopardy
Progress in tackling TB and other killer infectious diseases could be at risk as America and smaller donors pull back their supports, the Global Fund executive director has warned. The fund, supported by Ireland and other EU countries as well as the Gates Foundation and private donors, spends around $5bn annually tackling AIDS, TB and malaria in over 120 countries. Peter Sands warned: 'We actually ended 2024 with a real sense of momentum in the fight against TB, but since then we've had some major disruptions to ODA (official development assistance) and global health funding. 'So there is a real risk at this point as to whether or not we can sustain that momentum.' While the covid-19 pandemic disrupted aid programmes, he said until recently there was 'a strong recovery' in TB statistics. President Trump's shock defunding of USAID and other programmes, as well as cuts by Britain and others, have changed that landscape. Some 95% of HIV funding worldwide was either through the American PEPFAR funds or the Global Fund. The sudden drop in American funding is 'a significant concern', according to Mr Sands. 'So in some countries for example we would buy the antiretroviral treatments (for HIV patients) and PEPFAR would pay for the clinics,' he said. It means these gaps now have to be filled. Mr Sands visited Dublin this week to discuss Ireland's contribution to the fund's next three-year cycle. Ireland has donated over €339m since 2001. He welcomed Ireland's donations and its 'active engagement' in the board and other works. 'There's a moral argument for stopping so many people dying from a disease we know how to treat and can stop,' he said. 'There's also a more self-interested argument that says we're playing with fire by not getting more on top of it.' The fund buys from Ireland too including rapid diagnostic tests and medicines mainly for HIV programmes. Last year this came to about $4m (€3.5m). It also supports the buying of medicines at large-scale to negotiate lower prices. For example, a year's supply of HIV antiviral treatment dropped from $10,000 per person per year in 2002 to about $35 now, he explained. 'So we continue to drive the cost down working with manufacturers,' he said. Malaria is a particular concern as it is now spreading due to climate change. He added: 'It's the biggest killer of children in Sudan now. To put in perspective, some of the poorest countries in the world are having an intensity of disease burden that feels like the worst of covid-19 all the time. 'If you go to hospitals and clinics in somewhere like Chad or northern Nigeria 50% to 80% of the activity in those health facilities is malaria all the time.' In Ukraine, the fund supports a local NGO to run mobile health clinics especially for areas where hospitals were destroyed by the conflict. 'They have a significant HIV and TB challenge which has been made worse by the war,' he said. Doctors had to develop 'quite sophisticated tracking systems' to make sure people continue to receive the right treatment even when they flee to safer areas, he said.
Agriland
3 days ago
- Agriland
Minister's TB proposals need to be ‘balanced and fair'
Ongoing discussions that aim to reset the country's TB programme must result in an 'action plan' that establishes 'the requirements' on each stakeholder from farmers right through to other players in the livestock industry, according to one farm organisation. The president of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association's (ICMSA), Dennis Drennan, said today (Wednesday, May 28) this stakeholder group should also include vets and key departments and agencies including the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM). According to the department TB disease levels in recent years have increased significantly. Herd incidence has increased from 4.31% in 2022 to 6.04% in 2024, a 36% increase in the number of herds restricted between 2022 and 2024. Earlier this month DAFM presented an initial set of around 30 proposals to farm organisations and other stakeholders at an extraordinary 'summit' hosted by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon. This was followed up with a series of bilateral meetings between the minister and farm organisations and other stakeholders where a revised set of proposals were put forward. TB According to Drennan an action plan on TB could be formulated that is 'perfectly attainable and could be agreed and implemented in a way that treated everyone with respect and fairness'. But the ICMSA president has also warned that farmers have 'very legitimate concerns' around the proposals put forward by DAFM and the minister. 'ICMSA's major concern relates to very significant requirements being placed on farmers, some of which may have serious farming and financial implications, without any corresponding requirements being placed any of the other players. 'ICMSA can't accept this singling out of farmers when it's obvious that if TB is to be dealt with, we all need clear distinct targets, procedures, and timeframes in place, certainly in relation to the role of wildlife in relation to TB spread,' Drennan added. He has also stressed that the ICMSA believe an animal should 'only be allowed to move twice following a TB test with a further TB test required if further movements take place'. He said that with the average animal moving 1.3 times in their lifetime, such a proposal would not be a major burden on farmers. Drennan also emphasised today the ICMSA is fully supportive of 'significant and meaningful actions' that will halt and then reverse the latest surge TB. 'We've always indicated that we're on board for a serious response that's going to get TB levels moving in the right direction. 'But that's going to mean that everyone involved in the movement, trade and sale of cattle plays their part as well and that must mean the finishing units, the dealers and the marts too. 'The proposals so far suggest more regulations on the farmers while everyone else carries on their sweet and unbothered way. It's not fair and it won't work,' he added.
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Champions League club announce recovery of Arsenal cult hero, 36, from tuberculosis – then release him in same statement
PSV Eindhoven striker Lucas Perez is "recovering well" from tuberculosis after being diagnosed in March. The 36-year-old has been fighting the illness for the last two months, having 2 Lucas Perez is 'recovering well' from tuberculosis after being diagnosed in March Credit: Getty 2 Perez joined PSV from Deportivo de La Coruna in February Credit: Getty Following his diagnosis, GGD Brabant-Zuidoost - the public health department in Eindhoven - monitored the situation to ensure that no other player was infected. But a club statement from The Dutch side also revealed that he is now out of quarantine. Perez is "recovering well" and will now fly back to Spain to continue his rehabilitation. READ MORE ON ARSENAL The former Despite his recovery, Perez will not continue with PSV due to his contract expiring. That means he is set to become a free agent next month. The striker made just three appearances for PSV after joining at the end of February. Most read in Football His Eredivise campaign was abruptly cut short as a result of his illness. Before joining PSV, Perez enjoyed a fourth spell with Deportivo La Coruna. Lucas Perez signs for Arsenal He terminated his contract in January for "personal reasons" after requesting to leave. The striker has also played for the likes of Rayo Vallecano, Karpaty Lviv, PAOK, Alaves, Elche and Cadiz. He spent a short time at Arsenal from 2016 to 2018 after joining from Deportivo in a £17.1million deal and made 21 appearances. A one-year stint at The tuberculosis symptoms to watch out for TB is a potentially serious condition, but it can be cured if it's treated with the right antibiotics. It normally affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body, including the bones, brain, lymph glands, kidneys, spine, skin, and stomach. If you have TB in your lungs, the most common symptoms are: A persistent cough that lasts more than three weeks and usually brings up phlegm, which may be bloody Breathlessness that gradually gets worse Lack of appetite and weight loss A high temperature Night sweats If you have TB in other parts of your body, you may have symptoms such as: Swollen glands Body ache Swollen joints Tummy ache Dark pee Headaches Being sick Feeling confused A stiff neck A rash Source: Asthma and Lung UK
