The UK’s chief veterinary officer has urged farmers to stay vigilant for bluetongue virus after affirmation of a case in Suffolk, making it the third county to see an outbreak.
The Animal and Plant Well being Company (APHA) and the Pirbright Institute recognized the primary case of the illness in Kent in November by the bluetongue surveillance programme.
Since then, there was dozens of additional circumstances in cattle and sheep, predominantly in Kent and Norfolk, with the whole now at 54 as of 20 January.
In a brand new replace, Defra stated there had been a single case of bluetongue virus in a single cow in Suffolk, near the border with Norfolk.
Lively surveillance continues within the Short-term Management Zones (TCZs) throughout the counties, Defra added.
Bluetongue doesn’t have an effect on folks or meals security. The virus is transmitted by midge bites and impacts cows, goats, sheep and different camelids comparable to llamas.
The midges are most lively between April and November and never all vulnerable animals present rapid, or any, indicators of contracting the virus.
The impacts on vulnerable animals can range tremendously – some present no signs or results in any respect whereas for others it will probably trigger productiveness points comparable to lowered milk yield, whereas in essentially the most extreme circumstances may be deadly for contaminated animals.
Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss stated: “Bluetongue doesn’t pose a risk to human well being or meals security, however the illness can impression livestock farms, and trigger productiveness points.
“These detections are an instance of our strong illness surveillance procedures in motion and it’s also a transparent reminder for farmers that the illness stays a risk, regardless of coming in the direction of the tip of the midge exercise season.
“Farmers should stay vigilant and report any suspicions to APHA.”
BTV is a notifiable illness, which implies suspicion of it should be reported to the Animal and Plant Well being Company on 03000 200 301.
