No movement restrictions to be introduced around farm with bluetongue

No restriction of animal movements will be introduced at present around the Co Wexford farm where a case of bluetongue was identified at the weekend, according to the Department of Agriculture.

A spokesperson for the Department told the Irish Farmers Journal that movement restrictions are not necessary in the current situation.

“While animal movement controls may be required if the circumstances indicate it, right now the veterinary epidemiological risk assessment is such that animal movement controls in that area are not necessary, based on the information currently available. Specific measures depend on the context and time of year,” the spokesperson said.

They added that according to research it is too cold for the virus to replicate within midges, as that requires a temperature consistently above 12°C for many days.

“That means that no virus transmission via midges is happening during the current winter period.

“The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is carrying out epidemiological investigations and surveillance in Co Wexford and is tracing animals which moved out of the affected herd to establish the degree to which disease may be present,” the spokesperson stated.

Vaccines and compensation

The Department advised that farmers should contact their vet to discuss whether vaccination is the right choice for their circumstances and their vet can then obtain the vaccine if needed.

Three vaccines for the bluetongue virus (BTV-3) have been approved for use in Ireland by the Department of Agriculture. These are Syvazul BTV 3, Bluevac 3 and Bultavo 3.

The spokesperson confirmed that compensation is payable only for cattle, sheep or goats culled on the order of the Minister for Agriculture due to infection with bluetongue, payable at market rates.

“At the current time, based on the epidemiological circumstances, it is less likely that individual infected animals will need to be culled.

“It is not necessary to cull a whole herd which has BTV-3, as it is not the same sort of disease as more serious exotic diseases such as foot and mouth,” they stated.