Secretary of state, Steve Reed, visited a farm in Essex on Wednesday, September 25, to meet the farmer and NFU representatives to discuss the ongoing bluetongue epidemic.
Reed was accompanied by Animal Plant Health Agency (APHA) staff, including APHA’s veterinary head of Outbreaks for England, Sascha Van Helvoort, heard about the impact this disease has been having on the industry and the importance of reporting livestock with signs of the disease.
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed, said: “I have heard first-hand the experiences of farmers battling this disease, and we are working hard to prevent its spread into other areas of England and Great Britain.
“We understand restrictions can have an impact but stress the importance of everyone adhering to these. We are committed to working with everyone affected and urge people to report livestock they suspect have the disease.”
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) secretary of state has permitted the use of three new unauthorised vaccines in the UK for bluetongue variant 3 (BTV-3), which is currently the most active of the virus strains.
The vaccinations are only available for emergency use as commercial sale pends EU authorisation.
To prioritise initial supplies, a general license allows those in high-risk counties of England to use the vaccine. Specific licences can be applied for through APHA by animal keepers elsewhere in England who wish to use the vaccine.
BTV-3 was first reported in September 2023 in the Netherlands and has since spread to other countries including Belgium; German; France; Luxembourg; Denmark and Switzerland.
It was first detected in the UK on November 10, 2023 and the total number of BTV-3 cases for this season since August 26, 2024, stands at 98.
Symptoms vary across ruminants, but include fever; lesions; redness of the mouth; eyes; nose; reddening of the skin above the hoof; excessive salivation and nasal discharge. However, animals can also show little or no clinical signs.
Van Helvoort, said: “The increasing number of bluetongue virus (BTV3) cases demonstrate the importance of vigilance from all livestock keepers and farmers.
“We have field teams, vets and scientists across the country who are working hard to help tackle bluetongue virus and ensure farmers are being supported.
“If you have any suspicions of disease, you must report this to the Animal Plant Health Agency immediately so we can provide assistance.”
Disease control zones were put in place to control the movement of potentially affected animals as soon as bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) was detected. These are under constant review and adjustment in alignment with the latest developments.
A single restricted zone is now in place covering the east of England from Lincolnshire to West Sussex.
Bluetongue survey
Ruminant Health and Welfare have commissioned a nationwide survey designed to assess the impact of BTV-3 on the farming community.
The survey, which was launched today, is led by Fiona Lovatt of Flock Health Limited in collaboration with AHDB and the University of Nottingham.
