DEFRA has extended the bluetongue protection zone, following confirmation of disease on premises in Hampshire.

The confirmation on Friday, 28 March on a farm in the New Forest area means the protection zone is extended into Wiltshire and further into Hampshire.

The infected animals were found as a result of pre-movement testing required to move animals out of zones in the vector-free period, which ended on 15 March.

All evidence suggests that these animals were infected last year.

For further details on the bluetongue movement restrictions see the bluetongue page on the DEFRA website, available here