Ireland: Breed societies informed of serious implications of bluetongue

Cattle and sheep breed societies have been warned of the “serious implications” that an outbreak of bluetongue virus could have on the Irish livestock sector. In a letter issued from the National Disease Control Centre (NDCC) of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) today (Wednesday, August 28), Irish breed societies were informed of the measures being undertaken to reduce the risk of bluetongue. The letter stated: “The department wishes to highlight the continued concern and serious implications of a potential bluetongue virus (BTV) outbreak for the Irish livestock and trade sectors, and to re-emphasise measures to reduce the risk of a bluetongue disease incursion.” The DAFM stated today: “An outbreak of bluetongue in Ireland may result in the establishment of large disease control zones of 150km radius being introduced with movement and export restrictions applied to animals originating from within these zones. “The loss of our bluetongue-free status could ...