Laboratory tests have identified the strain of Bluetongue found in one Highland cow at the Baylham House Rare Breeds Farm near Ipswich, Suffolk and Defra have placed restrictions around this site.

This is the first time Bluetongue virus has been recorded in the UK although this strain has been found in Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg and Netherlands since August 2006.

Few facts about Bluetongue:

* Bluetongue does not affect humans and the Health Protection Agency advise that people who have visited the affected premises do not need to be concerned that there is any risk to their health.

* This is a disease of animals: ruminants including sheep, cattle, deer, camelids and goats. It is transmitted by the movement of midges or by movements of infected animals if they are subsequently bitten by midges.

Defra has been working in close partnership with the industry to develop the Bluetongue Control Strategy and has jointly been involved in raising awareness of this disease.

Further information at www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/bluetongue/index.htm

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 25th, 2007 at 3:56 pm within Industry news Channel(s).
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