Bluetongue discovered in Kent
Bluetongue has been discovered in a single adult cow near Canterbury in Kent on the 11th of November 2023.
There are temporary controls in place.
3 km Protection Zone (PZ) and
10 km Temporary control zone
Where a temporary control zone has been established, no person may move any animal on to or off premises in the zone except in accordance with a licence issued by a veterinary inspector.
Premises partly inside a temporary control zone and not inside any other zone are treated as being inside the temporary control zone.
These restrictions will apply until it’s confirmed that the disease has not spread. These restrictions may last several weeks.
Outbreaks can impact farmers through additional veterinary treatment, restriction of movement, trade restrictions, lost revenue, loss or reduction of annual breeding numbers.
Bluetongue virus is mostly spread by certain species of biting midges, many of which can be found throughout Great Britain. Once a midge has picked up the bluetongue virus it will be a carrier for the rest of its life.
Bluetongue virus can also be spread through biological products such as blood, germinal products (semen or embryos), or the movement of infected animals. It can spread through other ruminating animals, including but is not limited to cattle, sheep, goats, deer and camels.
Infected pregnant animals can, under certain circumstances, transmit the virus to their unborn offspring. Once born, the infected offspring could act as a source of bluetongue virus.
Vaccination is the best way to protect animals from the bluetongue virus
Historically, Bluetongue has been confined to tropical and subtropical areas (Central Africa, South East Asia) but climate change and trade patterns have seen increasing outbreaks in temperate regions including Northern Europe.
Outbreaks have occurred in Europe over the last 10 years. The most significant of which was an outbreak in Northern Europe in 2006-2008. There has been a significant risk of it arriving in the UK with midges being blown over the English Channel from Europe during any European outbreaks.
Bluetongue does not affect people or food safety.
Bluetongue is a notifiable disease in the UK and suspected cases must be reported immediately to the Divisional Veterinary Manager at the local Animal Health Office.
The last outbreak in England, Scotland or Wales was in 2007.
