September 25, 2007

UK imposes surveillance of Bluetongue zone

Britain said on Monday (September 24) that it would ease livestock movement restrictions linked to foot and mouth disease across a large part of England and Wales but imposed a new surveillance zone after Bluetongue disease was found.

A second case of Bluetongue was reported on Monday on a farm in Ipswich, eastern England, where Britain's first case was detected over the weekend, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said.

Debby Reynolds, Britain's chief veterinary officer, said livestock movement would be allowed under certain conditions from 2.30pm on Tuesday in most of the country with the exception of a risk area in south-east England.

Current restrictions, which allow for the movement of livestock within the risk area only if they are being moved direct to abattoirs for slaughter, will continue to be in force.

National Farmers Union president Peter Kendall said this regulation will come as a huge relief to livestock farmers who desperately need to move or sell their animals as well as reducing the danger of becoming a welfare and economic crisis for many farmers.

Britain's livestock has suffered several cases of foot and mouth disease after an initial outbreak in Surrey, south-east England was declared on August 3.

A new temporary control zone was imposed in Hampshire, southern England, on Monday after the discovery of a suspected case of foot and mouth.

The NFU backed the government's Bluetongue surveillance zone which is aimed to help determine if the virus is circulating.

Defra said there was still not enough evidence to confirm an outbreak of Bluetongue as it had not yet been demonstrated that the virus was circulating between animals and midges, which carry the disease.