Dear NSA affiliated sheep breed society,
We just wanted to get in touch to update you with the ongoing Bluetongue (BTV3) situation and ask if you could please share this message with your society members and contacts.
The situation continues to develop with the numbers of affected premises now exceeding 100. The vast majority of these cases are within the Restricted Zone (RZ) in south east and eastern areas of England. When we first started seeing BTV3 arrive here in late August/early September Temporary Control Zones (TCZ) were set up with very tight restrictions in order to try to reduce the risk of spread at a time when identified cases were caused directly by infected midges blowing across the channel from EU mainland. These TCZs gradually changed to Restricted Zones when it became clear that the virus was actually circulating here – it became a matter not of aiming to remove infection but to reduce/slow its spread. This has been effective but with the weather still relatively mild and conducive to midge activity we are continuing to see more cases identified across a wider area of England.
There continue to be a number of isolated cases that are being identified well outside the RZs and most, if not all of these relate to the movement of animals that would have unknowingly been carrying infection at the time. When identified these are being culled with surveillance on and around the farm in question.
Now the virus is circulating here it's spread is dependent on midge movements and it is known that midges travel relatively short distances over land – so in theory transmission is slow. However the virus can make big jumps across the country through infectious animals being moved and then a new midge population taking on the spread from there. This is why everyone has been encouraging real care and responsibility over moving animals, and why APHA has been offering free pre movement blood tests for animals planned to be moved even if they are outside the RZ but in areas of risk. With blood testing and licensing animals may get permission to be moved from the RZ to other holdings in England, but not into Wales and Scotland, and of course all movements into Northern Ireland are stopped at the moment.
We have had recent cases of isolated sheep found positive well outside the RZ in England, in Scotland via imported animals, and although thankfully tested negative, suspect cases in Wales, and now in North Wales. All these animals appear to relate to animal movements tracings, often moved from areas just before they become included within an expanding RZ. NSA urges all members and sheep keepers to exercise extreme care and responsibility if planning to move sheep, particularly when moving away in any direction from the RZs and surrounding regions. Observe every individual animal for clinical signs, lameness, blisters in and around the mouth or nose and report any suspicious cases to the APHA helpline (024 7771 0386). Seriously consider taking advantage of the APHA funded blood testing service, and remember that if you are moving animals to live from within the RZ this blood testing is a requirement along with a specific movement licence. It makes sense to take every step to avoid spreading this virus unnecessarily and the control of this disease is in part down to keepers and farmers taking care and acting not just in their own interest but that of their neighbours and fellow farmers.
We are regularly updating the NSA website and providing direct links to the relevant Defra and APHA pages for ease of use. Please make use of this resource.
Yours sincerely
Phil Stocker, NSA Chief Executive
Posted: 26 September 2024
