Bluetongue: Key messages
- There is now a large Protection zone established in England, in the East and South East of the country. The Surveillance Zone now extends to the Welsh borders in many places.
- There is no evidence to suggest that disease isn’t broadly contained within the Protection Zone at present. However, further cases identified in the Surveillance Zone would not be unexpected (due to the nature of the spread of disease, i.e. via midges).
- In agreement with a core group of industry stakeholders, the UK remains committed to a disease control approach which aims to contain disease within the current restricted areas, in line with ‘Phase 1’ of the UK Bluetongue Control Strategy. This will be achieved using movement controls of susceptible animals, as set out in EU legislation.
- Midge activity should diminish significantly by the beginning of December, which may halt further spread – at least for the winter. Therefore, if disease is actively contained, this will limit the foci for potential disease spread if disease successfully overwinters and remerges in 2008.
- Based on historical data, and the experiences of affected northern European January and March 2008, if it occurs at all The winter period will provide a vital opportunity in which to gain a clear understanding of the full extent of the spread of the disease through surveillance work. This remains crucial to help the industry with the support of government to plan for 2008 and the different scenarios that might occur and what the appropriate response would be, and in particular to fully inform a vaccination strategy in preparation for a vaccine potentially becoming available in Spring / Summer 2008.
- That requires farmers in the zones to remain vigilant and, for the sake of their industry, to report all new cases, so that we can monitor whether spread is still occurring.
- Over the coming months, the decision on whether to continue this approach will be kept under constant review with the Core Group and wider stakeholders. Government and industry recognises the hardship these controls impose. Our joint aim is to work in partnership using the control strategy the industry itself recommends to us.
Page last modified: 11 December, 2007