Bluetongue an update
Last week, on 10 October 2007, the protection zone for Bluetongue disease was extended to include more of the Midlands and the majority of the South East.
Bluetongue Disease is caused by a virus transmitted by midges. The virus infects domestic and wild ruminants (for example, sheep, cattle, goats and deer). Of these, sheep are the most severely affected by the disease.
The clinical signs in sheep are:
- Eye and nasal discharges which become thick and crusty
- Drooling
- High body temperature
- Swelling of the mouth, head and neck
- Lameness
- Haemorrhaging
- Inflammation at the junction of the skin and horn of the foot
- Respiratory problems
- Lethargy
Clinical signs in cattle are:
- Nasal discharge
- Swelling of the head and neck
- Conjunctivitis
- Swelling inside and ulcerations of the mouth
- Lethargy
- Drooling
- Fever
Fisher German are advising clients to check the Defra website for the latest information and if they are within an area affected to see the guidance relating to movement and licences. There are various licences available for the movement of animals under the Bluetongue control, although it is also important to consider that Foot and Mouth Disease Licensing may also be required. Defra have permitted from midnight on Sunday, 14 October 2007, subject to conditions, the movement of susceptible animals within the control and protection zones to approved slaughter houses outside the zones.
Defra stated …. “as Bluetongue is spread via vectors (i.e., midges), rather than from animal to animal, compulsory slaughter of ruminants infected by Bluetongue would not normally form part of our control strategy.”
For further information please contact Henrietta Cator at the Banbury office on 01295 271555.
- Ashby de la Zouch
- 01530 412821
- Banbury
- 01295 271 555
- Knutsford
- 01565 757970
- Market Harborough
- 01858 410 200
- Newark
- 01949 851815
- Southampton
- 02380 883150
- Stafford
- 01785 220 044
- Worcester
- 01905 453275
