Northern Ireland’s Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) has said that its veterinary laboratories in Omagh, Co. Tyrone, have resumed full services after major repairs and upgrades to the fabric of the building.
These facilities provide a postmortem and diagnostic sample testing service, providing local support to the veterinary industry and livestock farmers in the west, north and southeast of Northern Ireland.
Scientists at AFBI Omagh carry out examinations of deceased farm animals to provide a diagnostic service for vets and farmers and provide a crucial role in passive disease surveillance, reporting results to vets, as well as issuing general animal health and protection advice.
Experts in the labs at both Omagh and Belfast analyse general results and trends to monitor the geographical spread of new and existing animal diseases, providing the agri-food industry in Northern Ireland with a “vital first line of defense”.
AFBI chief executive, Dr. Stanley McDowell, said “I am very pleased to see AFBI’s Omagh veterinary investigation laboratory resume full operational capacity.
“The laboratory delivers a critical programme of surveillance and monitoring for diseases affecting farmed animals, including diseases which have the potential to affect humans, and provides an essential resource to farmers and vets west of the [River] Bann,” he added.
“The scientists based in Omagh have provided a high-quality professional service to the local area for over 50 years, and with these upgraded facilities, we look forward to serving the local community for many years to come,” Dr. McDowell said.
The upgrade to the Omagh facilities comes at a time when Northern Ireland is on heightened alert for bluetongue virus, of which there have been several outbreaks in in Britain; mostly in England, but not exclusively.
Late last month, Northern Ireland’s Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir, warned that the first case of bluetongue in Wales is “a stark reminder of the threat bluetongue presents”.
The Welsh Government confirmed that bluetongue was detected in three sheep moved to Gwynedd from the east of England.
Minister Muir said confirmation of the first case of the virus in Wales underlines why farmers in Northern Ireland should “source animals responsibly”.
The minister said: ”One of the main risks of Bluetongue entering Northern Ireland is from importing infected animals.
“Bluetongue does not affect human health or food safety; however, an incursion to Northern Ireland would have a significant impact on livestock and the rural economy,” he added.
