The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) have identified a single confirmed case of Bluetongue virus BTV-3 in a bull at a premise near Withernsea. The DEFRA Declaration of a Temporary Control Zone can be found here.
Bluetongue is a viral disease, which affects ruminants (such as sheep, cattle, goats, and deer) and camelids (llamas and alpacas). It does not affect horses, pigs, or birds. It is mainly spread by adult-infected midges biting an animal susceptible to the disease. Reassurance can be provided to residents who are concerned about the risk to people, as there are no public health concerns. Bluetongue does not affect humans.
APHA are leading the response with support from the Council’s Animal Health Team. There is a well-established national contingency plan for dealing with animal disease, which may involve culling of infected animals and the introduction of animal movement restrictions. The restrictions for bluetongue do not restrict the movement of the public to and from the area.
A 20km Temporary Control Zone has been put in place around the premise. Click here to view the APHA Interactive Bluetongue Virus Map.
APHA will be contacting farms and carrying out testing of susceptible livestock within this zone to understand the scale and mitigate any potential spread. The Council’s Animal Health Team is focused on providing advice to livestock keepers and rural businesses, as well as the enforcement of movement restrictions and licences based on intelligence and in liaison with APHA.
Information on how to prevent the spread can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bluetongue-how-to-prevent-it-and-stop-it-spreading
Information for holdings which are in the TCZ (but not under the bluetongue premises restrictions) about licenses for the movement of livestock can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bluetongue-movement-licences-and-designated-slaughterhouses#:~:text=Holdings%20which%20are%20in%20a%C2%A0TCZ%20(but%20not%20under%20bluetongue%20premises%20restrictions)
