New bluetongue case

Mar 29 2008 The Journal

THE bluetongue protection zone was extended yesterday after a new case of the animal disease was confirmed in Hampshire, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said.

A case identified in New Forest District means the zone, out of which the movement of susceptible animals is not permitted, has now been extended into Wiltshire and further into Hampshire, Defra said.

The wider surveillance zone which covers much of England remains unchanged.

Defra said the disease was identified in a cow as part of pre-movement testing required for moving livestock out of the zones during the vector-free period when risk of the disease spreading was low. The vector-free period ended on March 15.

Defra said the evidence suggested that the cow was infected with the disease, which can kill animals such as sheep and cattle, last year.

There have now been 122 cases of bluetongue in the UK since the disease was first discovered near Ipswich, Suffolk last September, 56 of which have been identified this year.

The protection zone has now extended into the districts and boroughs of Salisbury, Test Valley, Eastleigh, City of Southampton, Fareham and the Isle of Wight, Defra said.