Bluetongue: Chief veterinary officer urges farmers in the UK to remain vigilant

The UK’s chief veterinary officer has urged farmers to remain vigilant for bluetongue virus as Europe sees an increase in BTV-3 cases. There has been an uptick in cases in the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium, with some animals showing severe clinical signs. British farmers are being reminded by Defra that free testing is now available for animals moving from the highest risk counties to live elsewhere in Britain, including Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Kent and East Sussex. Last November, APHA and the Pirbright Institute identified the first case of the disease in Britain through the annual bluetongue surveillance programme. Bluetongue virus is primarily transmitted by midge bites and affects cattle, goats, sheep and camelids such as llamas. The impacts on susceptible animals can vary greatly – some show no clinical signs or effects at all while for others it can cause productivity issues such as reduced milk yield, while in the most severe cases can be fatal for infected animals. The ...