Farms on alert over virus find
Dec 15 2007 by Sam Wood, The Journal
FARMERS in the North-East last night spoke of their fears after a case of Bluetongue was discovered near Middlesbrough.
A cow on a farm on Teesside, which had been imported from Germany, was found to be carrying the virus, a Defra spokesman confirmed.
The farm is outside the existing Bluetongue protection and surveillance zones but the spokesman confirmed there were no plans to implement such a zone in the North-East.
The animal was originally from within a protection zone in Lower Saxony, Germany.
Routine post-import testing, which is carried out on all Bluetongue-susceptible animals entering the UK, uncovered the virus.
The Teesside farm has been placed under restrictions and a full epidemiological investigation is under way.
Last night the cow was killed to stop it spreading the virus to the local midge population. The rest of the imported batch have tested negative for the disease and will not be culled.
Bluetongue is a non-contagious virus spread by midges which affects all susceptible ruminants, especially sheep.
It has been known to wipe out up to 70% of affected flocks of sheep.
A Defra spokesman said: “There is currently no evidence that the virus is circulating in the area, and there will therefore be no changes to the existing Bluetongue zones and no new zones will be established.
“But should the need arise to put further restrictions in place, then we will do so.
“There are strict regulations for exporting cattle from Bluetongue infected zones and the fact that the disease has been discovered shows the testing is working.”
North-East farmers last night said they were dismayed at the news.
James Weightman, of Hallfield Farm, Peterlee, said: “It is desperately sad news coming at this time. We thought we would be safe at least until the spring. We hoped the disease had quietened down for the winter. It’s not something we need and if restrictions eventually need to be put in round here, it will be devastating for the industry.”
And Sandra Dixon, a dairy farmer in Bishop Auckland, said: “This is very close to my farm, too close. It’s very worrying news and not something I wanted to hear. I just hope it doesn’t spread and that Defra manages to keep it under control.”
Kevin Pearce, head of food and farming at the NFU, said: “The fact this animal came from Germany with all the correct paperwork raises serious questions about the way some member states are implementing controls.”
