There is now a general licence available for bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) vaccine covering the whole of England, according to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
Livestock keepers in England are able to use any of the permitted BTV-3 vaccines without applying for a specific licence. However, they must still meet the legally binding conditions of the general licence for any vaccination activity.
The general licence only allows vaccination in England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have not licensed the use of vaccination for BTV-3, but will keep this position under review, Defra said.
Defra said the wider licence “steps up” the response to bluetongue across the country. Two new cases of the virus were confirmed yesterday (Friday, October 18):
- One bovine case detected through surveillance testing in Berkshire;
- One sheep in North Yorkshire detected after being traced from a premises in Suffolk, having moved before the restricted zone was put in place.
This brings the total number of cases to 143 in England and two in Wales, according to Defra.
BTV-3 vaccine
Unlike the authorised BTV vaccines for other BTV serotypes, the BTV-3 vaccines reduce rather than prevent viraemia (presence of BTV virus in the blood).
This means that they may not prevent animals from being infected or infectious. Depending on the vaccine, their claims include reduction or prevention of clinical signs experienced or mortality.
For this reason, all movement controls and trade restrictions in place will still apply to vaccinated animals, according to Defra.
Vaccination status will not affect movement restrictions which remain in place and apply to all ruminants and camelids moving out of restricted zones and to the movement of their germinal products within zones.
Farmers are reminded to only move animals where this is absolutely necessary. Defra recommends animal keepers to work with their veterinarians to decide if vaccination is right for their animals.
Farmers in England are urged to contact their private veterinarian if considering the use of any of the permitted BTV-3 vaccines, Defra said.
