The UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer has urged farmers to remain vigilant for signs of bluetongue virus, after the disease was picked up in a number of cattle imported from France.
The Animal and Plant Health Agency identified the disease in cattle, after they were brought to Preston and Kendal in England, and two locations in Scotland.
A total of 32 animals came from the same assembly centre in France, in an area where multiple cases of bluetongue have been confirmed since September this year.
Bluetongue virus is transmitted by midges and affects cows, goats, sheep and other camelids such as llamas.
It can reduce milk yield, cause sickness, reduce reproductive performance or, in the most severe cases, cause death of infected animals.
Defra has stated that “strict rules on the movement of livestock from regions affected by bluetongue are already in place” and noted that action is being taken to ensure there is no spread of the disease.
Chief Veterinary Officer for the UK, Nigel Gibbens, said: “Bluetongue does not pose a threat to human health or food safety, but can cause severe disease in some cases or have a negative impact on farm incomes, for example by causing reduced milk yield in cows and infertility in sheep.
“We continue to carefully monitor the situation in France, where bluetongue disease control measures are in place.”
The affected animals will be dealt with under the Trade in Animals and Related Products regulations; cattle with a high risk of being infected with the BTV-8 strain of bluetongue or which had not been vaccinated before being exported will be humanely culled.
Following Defra’s announcement, the British Veterinary Association (BVA) has called for renewed vigilance and responsible sourcing,.
BVA’s senior vice president, Gudrun Ravetz, commented: “It is reassuring that the systems we have in place for post-movement testing have ensured the disease has been detected quickly, and that action has been taken.
“However, it is a grave and timely reminder to all livestock keepers of the importance of responsible sourcing of animals, and of fully understanding the potential disease risks of importing animals from areas where disease is known to be circulating.
This story was originally published on a previous version of the Meat Management website and so there may be some missing images and formatting issues.
