There is an 80% chance that the Bluetongue virus will hit England by September.
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There is an 80% chance that the Bluetongue virus, serotype eight (BTV-8), will hit English shores by September, according to a report from DEFRA.
The most likely route of transmission is infected midges being blown across from France to the south of England. The risk from the movement of imported animals has been deemed low. Surveillance of BTV-8 is being carried out in the UK both in midges and bulk milk testing.
To date, France has reported 287 outbreaks, just one new outbreak since 8 June. The case was in a one-day-old calf and DEFRA said without doubt it was caused by transplacental transmission. The cases have been relatively concentrated in the centre of the country and mainly affecting cattle. No increase in spread towards the north coast of France has been reported.
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The NFU is advising British farmers to monitor stock carefully, report any clinical signs of disease, source animals responsibly, consider vaccination and maintain good biosecurity.
Bluetongue is a notifiable disease. Any suspicions of the disease must be reported immediately to the local District Veterinary Office.
Clinical signs of the disease are available on the Department’s website.
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There is an 80% chance that the Bluetongue virus, serotype eight (BTV-8), will hit English shores by September, according to a report from DEFRA.
The most likely route of transmission is infected midges being blown across from France to the south of England. The risk from the movement of imported animals has been deemed low. Surveillance of BTV-8 is being carried out in the UK both in midges and bulk milk testing.
To date, France has reported 287 outbreaks, just one new outbreak since 8 June. The case was in a one-day-old calf and DEFRA said without doubt it was caused by transplacental transmission. The cases have been relatively concentrated in the centre of the country and mainly affecting cattle. No increase in spread towards the north coast of France has been reported.
The NFU is advising British farmers to monitor stock carefully, report any clinical signs of disease, source animals responsibly, consider vaccination and maintain good biosecurity.
Bluetongue is a notifiable disease. Any suspicions of the disease must be reported immediately to the local District Veterinary Office.
Clinical signs of the disease are available on the Department’s website.
If you would like to speak to a member of our team, please call us on 01-4199525.
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