Bluetongue strikes for the first time this summer

Vigilance is being urged by the NFU after two imported rams tested positive for bluetongue – the first cases of the summer. One of the rams, both which have the serotype 8 strain, was near Lewes, East Sussex, and the other near Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. They are the first cases of 2008 and were brought into the country from central France last Tuesday. The animals were detected as a result of post-import testing that Defra carries out on all bluetongue-susceptible animals arriving from continental Europe.

Deputy chief vet, Alick Simmons, said there was no evidence to suggest the virus is circulating between local midge and animal populations and that a full epidemiological investigation is underway.

He said: "Bluetongue has recently been confirmed as circulating this year in the Netherlands and large areas of France, despite vaccination programmes being undertaken. Similar re-emergence of disease in the UK would also not be unexpected in the coming weeks."

Defra says the whole of England 'will not become a protection zone before 1 September' – only then will every region of the country be allowed to vaccinate. This news highlights the need for farmers to think very carefully and take care when importing animals from the rest of Europe, particularly areas where bluetongue is running rampant.

It also reinforces the need for all farmers in the protection zone in this country to vaccinate all their animals as soon as they are able to ensure any outbreaks do not spread.