Following several confirmed cases of Bluetongue virus BTV3 at a number of premises across northern Lincolnshire, the UK Chief Veterinary Officer has declared bluetongue restricted zones across affected regions including some areas near to Boston, including Langrick Bridge, Antons Gowt, Frithville, and Sibsey to mitigate the risk of further cases of disease occurring.
Bluetongue virus is primarily transmitted by midge bites and affects cattle, goats, sheep, goats, deer and camelids such as llamas and alpacas. The impacts on susceptible animals can vary greatly – some show no clinical signs or effects at all while for others it can cause productivity issues such as reduced milk yield, while in the most severe cases can be fatal for infected animals.
All keepers of cattle, sheep, other ruminants and camelids in the disease hotspots will need to follow strict restrictions on animal and germinal product movements.
All infected premises have been placed under restriction and susceptible animals can only be moved under licence from infected premises.
Essential moves of susceptible animals (cattle, sheep, goats, deer and other ruminants and camelids including llamas and alpacas) can take place without a licence within the Restricted Zone but cannot be moved out of the zone without a specific licence. A general licence to move animals to designated abattoirs is also available.
The Secretary of State has permitted the use of 3 unauthorised bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) vaccines within the United Kingdom, subject to licence. Unlike some of the authorised BTV vaccines for other BTV serotypes, the BTV-3 vaccines reduce the virus in the bloodstream rather than preventing its circulation completely. This means that they may not prevent your animals from being infected or infectious, hence vaccination status will not affect movement restrictions.
It does not affect people, and meat and milk from infected animals are safe to eat and drink.
Farmers should continue to monitor their animals frequently for clinical signs and report suspicion of disease immediately, they should also make sure their animals and land are registered with APHA so keepers can be kept informed and animals easily located.
Farmers are also reminded that free testing remains available for animals moving from the highest risk counties to live elsewhere in Great Britain or to be sold at a market within a high-risk county where there will be buyers from outside the high-risk counties.
UK Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss said: “Following an increased number of bluetongue cases, we have declared a restricted zone across Suffolk and Norfolk. This means all keepers in these regions must urgently act now to both prevent the disease spreading to their herds and any further. Farmers are urged not to move animals within the zone unless it is absolutely necessary.
“We have not taken this action lightly and we are clear that farmers and their vets must remain vigilant and report any suspicions to APHA immediately.
In line with the disease control approach developed in advance of the virus being found, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Animal and Plant Health Agency are seeking to limit the spread of infection and the new restricted zone will increase the chances of being able to do this.
Both departments are committed to working with everyone affected to help them protect their animals and those of neighbouring farmers, and will keep the size and nature of the zone under constant review as their understanding of the disease picture develops.
Farmers can help minimise the risk of disease spread by not moving animals within the zone unless they really have to.
