Bluetongue control zone extended in England, lifted in Wales

The bluetongue restriction zone has been extended in England to include the Isle of Wight after the disease was identified in a cow on the island, but in Wales controls have now been lifted from the only two farms where cases were recently identified.

Defra said a cow with suspected clinical signs on the Isle of Wight was confirmed positive for bluetongue last week.

The control zone had therefore been extended to take in the island and part of Hampshire, meaning it covers most of the east of England as far north as Scarborough.

It is a more positive picture in Wales, though.

See also: Bluetongue vaccination could remove restrictions in 2025

Tracing of high-risk animal movements by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (Apha) had identified infected animals at two farms in Gwynedd and Ynys Môn.

Follow-up surveillance work found no further evidence of infection, so Welsh rural affairs minister Huw Irranca-Davies confirmed that bluetongue restrictions had been lifted from both farms.

“We are fortunate that these incidents have only been near misses, and that wider disease spread has not happened in Wales,” he said.

The Welsh government will continue with its policy of prohibiting the movement of susceptible animals from the restricted zone in England, except to designated abattoirs.

“My policy goal remains to keep bluetongue out of Wales, for the benefit of our animals and of those who keep them,” the minister said.