Farmers have been urged to remain vigilant for bluetongue virus amid a “high probability” of infected midges blowing over from Europe.
While the virus doesn’t affect humans, new strains could impact cow and sheep livestock in the country if midges from the European mainland make it over to the UK.
It’s not the first time that bluetongue has been detected in the UK, and its impact on farming in the UK has been relatively small.
However, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) assessments have concluded that the virus could reappear this year as we enter the warmer months.
There have been 126 documented cases of the virus in England, according to official reports.
There is currently no vaccine for the BTV-3 strain of bluetongue virus, however, emergency vaccines have recently been approved in parts of Europe.
So far, there’s no direct threat to humans, and farmers are being urged to monitor their animals to help identify any outbreaks across the country.
What is bluetongue?
The virus is transmitted by midge bites and affects cows, goats, sheep and other camelids such as llamas. It is, however, most commonly found in sheep.
The midges are most active between April and November and not all susceptible animals show immediate, or any, signs of contracting the virus.
The impacts on susceptible animals can vary greatly. Some show no symptoms or effects at all while for others it can cause productivity issues such as reduced milk yield, while in the most severe cases can be fatal for infected animals.
There were said to have been around 800 outbreaks in patches around Europe as of October 2023.
Can bluetongue spread to humans?
Bluetongue does not affect people or food safety.
UK chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss said in 2023: “Bluetongue does not pose a threat to human health or food safety, but the disease can impact livestock farms, and cause productivity issues.”
How to prevent bluetongue
Farmers are being urged to be vigilant, source their livestock responsibly, and practise good biosecurity to prevent the spread of bluetongue.
Previous outbreaks of bluetongue in the UK have resulted in swift action from local farmers and authorities.
The APHA has implemented strict rules in the past when bluetongue was detected and ensured that imported animals have compliant paperwork.
For instance, in November 2023, a single cow was detected with bluetongue and efforts were quickly introduced to limit the disease's spread.
At the time, the Government said the infected cow was culled to reduce the risk of onward disease transmission.
A 10km temporary control zone around the affected farm was also put in place, which restricted movements of susceptible animals except under licence.
Suspicion of bluetongue in animals in England must be reported to the Animal and Plant Health Agency on 03000 200 301.
