The total number of bluetongue (BTV-3) cases in Great Britain has risen to 157, with 155 in England and two in Wales, according to a latest situation report from the UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
The latest cases were confirmed in cattle in Norfolk, where one was identified after a pre-movement test and another in Buckinghamshire which was ruled positive following surveillance testing.
Separately a case was confirmed in cattle on the Isle of Wight following a report of “suspect clinical signs”.
Bluetongue zones
According to DEFRA, 14 cases of bluetongue have been detected outside the current restricted zone in Britain.
These are located in Bath and north-east Somerset, Shropshire, Cheshire, Cumbria, Anglesey, Gywnedd, north Yorkshire and Cornwall.
DEFRA stated: “The animals were moved to these premises from areas where disease is now known to be circulating, but the moves took place before bluetongue restrictions were put in place.
“These premises were initially placed under restriction and some of the infected animals have been culled to prevent risk of local transmission.
“Further testing is being undertaken to ensure there has been no local transmission. Several of the premises have completed this testing and restrictions have been lifted.”
The department has again highlighted that bluetongue has “spread quickly” across Europe and it has warned farmers and businesses that there remains “a risk when importing animals from countries close to where disease is present”.
“In addition to cases where disease was acquired in England, the UK chief veterinary officer also confirmed bluetongue in one animal imported into Devon.
“The other animals in the consignment were all negative.
“This animal was culled and follow up testing has confirmed there was no local transmission and restrictions have been lifted. This animal was detected as part of our routine post import process,” it added.
In a separate development, the Welsh government has lifted now restrictions on two farms in Gwynedd and Ynys Mon, where bluetongue-infected animals had been moved into the area.
DAFM
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has warned farmers and livestock keepers to be vigilant “as the spread of disease to new regions of Europe and GB increases infection pressure and risk of bluetongue transmission to Ireland”.
DAFM said that although Ireland is currently free of the virus if could spread to Ireland through “import of infected animals, infected foetuses, germinal products or wind dispersal of infected midges from infected areas”.
It has also highlighted that the bluetongue virus is currently “circulating widely” in the Netherlands, France, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, Denmark, Switzerland, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Austria, Portugal and the Czech Republic.
