No GB-wide Bluetongue Protection Zone – DEFRA

DEFRA has no plans to declare England or Great Britain a Bluetongue Protection Zone based on the current status of the outbreak, Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer Fred Landeg has confirmed.

The deputy chief vet told a press conference on Friday (5 Oct) that the current control and protection zones would remain in place until the end of summer 2008 at the earliest.  Only the confirmation of new cases would force the government to review the existing restrictions, said Mr Landeg.

“The restrictions will have to remain in place for sometime.  Even if we are lucky enough to have a harsh winter we still have to demonstrate disease free status,” he said.  Due to the breeding season of the midge it would not be possible to do this before the end of next summer, he explained.

Some industry groups, have been reported as calling for all of England and possibly Great Britain to be designated a protection zone in order to allow freer movement of animals.

But Mr Landeg said if the disease were to re-emerge next summer than DEFRA may extend the control zone to facilitate trade after discussions with industry stakeholders.

As of 1700hrs on Thursday (4 October) there were 25 premises infected with Bluetongue spread across three distinct clusters within the current control zone: Ipswich, Lowerstoft and one in Essex.

“Our strategy is to contain it in that area if possible,” said Mr Landeg.

The deputy chief vet was also confident that midge activity in the area should diminish greatly over the coming months as the temperature falls, but he reminded farmers of the need to be vigilant and report all suspect cases to Animal Health.