The Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA) reports that bluetongue has been confirmed in four more individual animals located at two new premises within the 10km Temporary Control Zone (TCZ) near Canterbury, Kent.
Following active surveillance within the 10km temporary control zone (TCZ) a further four cases in cattle of bluetongue serotype 3 have been identified on two additional premises, all within the 10km TCZ and within 5km of the first finding near Canterbury, Kent.
All four animals will be humanely culled to reduce the risk of onward transmission. Defra reports that ‘there is no evidence that there is circulating virus in the midge population’.
The 10km TCZ remains in place to minimise the spread of disease while further investigations are undertaken to determine if there has been any local spread.
APHA warns that livestock keepers must remain vigilant and follow the restrictions on animal movements.
More information, including how to spot and report the disease is available on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/bluetongue
Definitive requirements are set out in the published declarations for each disease control zone currently in force. More information is available on GOV.UK.
You can also check if specific areas are in a zone by using the following bluetongue interactive map.
Picture: Stock image
Read more about bluetongue here
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