Still ‘no evidence’ that bluetongue virus is circulating as cases hit 45

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has said there is still “no evidence” that bluetongue virus is circulating as cases of the disease reach 45.

The department said there is no proof of the virus circulating in midges in Great Britain after a further case of the disease was identified in the north-east Kent temporary control zone (TCZ).

The case was identified in a cow in the Deal area following active surveillance and the animal will be humanely culled to minimise the risk of onward transmission.

The TCZ is not being extended and movement restrictions continue to apply to cattle, sheep, camelids and other ruminants in the zone, Defra said.

This cases brings the total number of cases in England to 45 infected animals on 25 premises.

Bluetongue

Bluetongue virus is mostly spread by certain species of biting midges, many of which can be found throughout Great Britain.

Midges are infected with the virus when they bite an infected animal and the virus spreads when the infected midge then bites an uninfected susceptible animal. Once a midge has picked up the bluetongue virus it will be a carrier for the rest of its life. 

Bluetongue affects sheep, cattle, other ruminants such as deer and goats and camelids such as llamas.

It does not affect people or food safety, but outbreaks can result in prolonged animal movement and trade restrictions.

The last outbreak in England, Scotland or Wales was in 2007.

Signs and symptoms

Sheep are more likely to show obvious clinical signs of bluetongue than cattle if they become infected.

Signs of bluetongue in sheep include:

• Ulcers or sores in the mouth and nose;
• Discharge from the eyes or nose and drooling from mouth;
• Swelling of the lips, tongue, head and neck and the coronary band (where the skin of the leg meets the horn of the foot);
• Red skin as a result of blood collecting beneath the surface;
• Fever;
• Lameness;
• Breathing problems;
• Abortion;
• Death;

In cattle, signs of the disease include:

• Lethargy;
• Crusty erosions around the nostrils and muzzle;
• Redness of the mouth, eyes, nose;
• Reddening of the skin above the hoof;
• Nasal discharge;
• Reddening and erosions on the teats;
• Fever;
• Milk drop;
• Not eating;
• Abortion.