Bluetongue outbreak extends to Essex

[Mary Wilson]

22 hours ago
Richard Haugh
BBC News, Essex​

The first case of the bluetongue virus during a recent outbreak has been detected in Essex.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the disease had been found at four new premises within its restricted zone on Friday, including the first in Essex.

Defra recently restricted the movement of sheep and cattle within Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex and advised keepers of lifestock to remain vigilant.

It said bluetongue, which can cause infertility and breathing problems in some animals but does not affect people or food safety, had been found at 24 premises since 26 August. ...

The virus was first detected during this outbreak at a farm near Beccles, Suffolk, on 26 August.

On Thursday, a temporary control zone was set up in East Yorkshire after a case was found near Withernsea.
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy4yz7e7vw3o

 

[Mary Wilson]

Restrictions extended as bluetongue virus spreads

6 days ago
Andy Trigg
BBC News, Essex​

Restrictions on the movement of sheep and cattle have been extended after more animals tested positive for the deadly bluetongue virus.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said Essex had been added to the restricted zone, which already included Norfolk and Suffolk.

It said 27 animals on 10 premises had been infected and advised keepers of livestock including cattle, sheep, goats, deer, llamas and alpacas to remain vigilant. ...

Restrictions were extended to the whole of Norfolk and Suffolk after more animals tested positive, and were extended further to include Essex on Monday. ...

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gd8e43v86o
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[Mary Wilson]

Defra extends bluetongue zones across South East

5 hours ago
Jacob Panons
BBC News, South East​

Temporary restriction zones brought in to help stem the spread of the bluetongue virus (BTV-3) now cover the whole of the South East after more cases were found.

The government announced on Saturday that 'high risk' and 'control' zones previously set up in the UK had been merged and extended.

It means the new restrictions cover all of Surrey, West Sussex and Greater London, and comes days after the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs extended the zones to cover the whole of Kent and East Sussex.

A government spokesperson said: "Following reports of suspicion of clinical disease in sheep at premises in East Sussex and East Yorkshire the UK CVO [chief veterinary officer] has confirmed two new cases of BTV-3."

Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire are all now included in the restricted zones, along with Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and East Yorkshire.

There are now 95 cases in the country of the the virus. ...

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g4m9618lmo
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