September 24, 2007

 

UK conducts more bluetongue tests

 

 

British scientists are testing tiny flies on a farm in eastern England to see if UK's first-known case of bluetongue virus is part of a larger outbreak.

 

Already hurt by the foot-and-mouth-disease outbreaks, farmers face new uncertainty over the insect-borne bluetongue virus, which affects cows and other ruminant animals.

 

One infected cow was found at the Baylham House Rare Breeds Farm near Ipswich, 70 miles (110 kilometres) northeast of London, authorities announced Saturday (September 22).

 

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said in a statement Sunday that bluetongue will not be a "confirmed outbreak unless further investigation demonstrates that disease is circulating" and the process could take days or weeks to assess.

 

There are no immediate plans for new movement restrictions.

 

If the virus is circulating, the government will put restrictions on the movement of animals within a 20-kilometer (12-mile) radius control zone around the farm.

 

Baylham House Farm, which is normally open to the public, has rare sheep, four breeds of cattle, pygmy goats, chickens and four breeds of pig. A statement posted to the company's site said a veterinarian was first called on Monday (September 17) when Debbie, a highland cow at the farm, showed signs of being sick.

 

It said authorities told the owners on September 21 that the farm's entire flock would have to be checked for bluetongue.

 

Bluetongue is not harmful to humans, but can be fatal for ruminant animals, especially sheep. The disease is transmitted by certain species of midges common in Mediterranean areas. Experts say the insect has moved farther north due to global warming, and bluetongue may now be endemic in northern Europe.

 

Officials said the strain of bluetongue detected in the British cow is the same type as that found in Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg and Netherlands since August 2006.

 

Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer Fred Landeg said News that there was no working vaccine against the disease, and that it would be several months before one was available. He said preparation of vaccine needs a great deal of careful work.

 

The disease has recently been found in the Netherlands after moving north from Belgium and west from Germany.

 

The farm said the infected cow had been slaughtered.