GovWire

Guidance: Bluetongue: how to spot and report it

Animal Plant Health Agency

February 2
20:04 2024

Bluetongue affects:

  • sheep
  • cattle
  • other ruminants such as deer and goats
  • camelids such as llamas and alpacas

Rarely, bluetongue can affect dogs and other carnivores if they eat infected material (such as aborted material and afterbirth).

It does not affect people or food safety, but outbreaks can result in prolonged animal movement and trade restrictions.

Latest situation and disease control zones

There are 73 bluetongue cases in England on 44 premises in 3 counties. There is still no evidence that bluetongue virus is currently circulating in midges in Great Britain. Surveillance is ongoing.

Check if youre in a zone on the?bluetongue disease control zone map.

Reduced vector activity and changes to disease control measures

Due to a decrease in temperature, we are now in a seasonally vector low period, when midge activity is much lower, and they are not actively feeding.

A specific licence to move live animals out of the Temporary Control Zone (TCZ) is available, subject to pre-movement testing and other licence conditions. These licences will only apply during periods of low vector activity and will not apply to animals that test positive in a pre-movement test.

Update 2 February 2024

Following active surveillance of premises in theNorfolktemporary control zone (TCZ), 3 new cases of bluetongue in cattle have been confirmed at a premises near Hales.

Now we are in a seasonally vector low period, the positive animals will not be culled but will be restricted at their current locations and disease mitigation measures will be taken. TheTCZis not being extended.

Find details of allbluetongue disease control zones in England, including rules you must follow in these areas. Movement restrictions in the zone apply to cattle, sheep, deer, camelids and other ruminants.

Update 1 February 2024

Following active surveillance of premises in theNorfolktemporary control zone (TCZ), 3 new cases of bluetongue in cattle and 1 case in a sheep have been confirmed at two premises within the ownership near Surlingham.

Update 29 January 2024

Following active surveillance of premises in theNorfolktemporary control zone (TCZ), 4 new cases of bluetongue in cattle have been confirmed in animals that were grazing within the TCZ during the high risk period.

All bluetongue disease control zones

A number of different types (serotypes) of bluetongue are circulating in Europe including:

  • BTV-1
  • BTV-3
  • BTV-4
  • BTV-8

In Great Britain, bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) has been found in Kent and Norfolk.

To minimise the spread of disease, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is placing 10km temporary control zones (TCZs) around premises with infected animals.

The TCZ may be extended if further cases are identified.

Finddetails of all bluetongue disease control zones in England, including rules you must follow in these areas.

Bluetongue has been reported in a number of European countries. Go to thecurrentoutbreak assessmentsand thetopical issues pagefor more detail.

You should discuss the risks ofimporting stock fromBTVaffected countrieswith your vet.

Movement licences

You can only move animals into, out of or within a TCZ if you meet licence conditions.

Specific movement licences

You can apply for a specific movement licence for the following moves:

  • free area into theTCZpermanently (for example, breeding stock)
  • TCZto go direct to slaughter at a designated slaughterhouse in the free area
  • TCZ to a premises in the free area subject to a negative pre-movement test
  • if theres an urgent and genuine welfare need to move animals

The application guidance includes:

  • how to apply for a specific licence
  • the types of movements covered by specific licences
  • slaughterhouses that accept animals fromTCZs

General movement licences

In addition to specific licences, there are a small number of time limited general licences.

General licences allow a movement or activity that would otherwise be prohibited in a TCZ.

You need to check that you meet and comply with the conditions of the general licence. If you do, you do not need to apply for a specific licence. You can rely on the general licence as providing authority for the movement or activity.

General licences are not applicable for moving anything to or from premises that have been served a restriction notice by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). These general licences will only be available during the seasonal vector low period.

The following general licences are available in England:

Surveillance visits in temporary control zones

APHA is carrying out surveillance visits on premises with susceptible animals in the temporary control zones. This includes zoos and wildlife centres.

On a surveillance visit, they will:

  • check records
  • inspect susceptible animals and may take blood samples

Lambs and kids under 12 weeks will be inspected. They will only be sampled if the dam tests positive.

APHA will contact you in advance to schedule a visit and confirm stock numbers. You must assist APHA with sampling by:

  • gathering up the animals
  • providing handling facilities for safe sampling

If your animal tests positive, APHA will notify you within 48 hours of taking samples. This will be before they make the case public.

Most infected animals will not

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