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| Third cow tested for bluetongue | Third cow tested for bluetongue |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A third cow is being tested for bluetongue after two imported animals tested positive for the virus on a farm in north Wales. | A third cow is being tested for bluetongue after two imported animals tested positive for the virus on a farm in north Wales. |
| The two imported cattle were found to have type 8 of the virus with further investigations taking place at the premises in Ruthin. | The two imported cattle were found to have type 8 of the virus with further investigations taking place at the premises in Ruthin. |
| The two positive cattle were part of a group of seven animals imported from the Limoges area of France. | The two positive cattle were part of a group of seven animals imported from the Limoges area of France. |
| Farmers are being urged to vaccinate their stock against the disease. | Farmers are being urged to vaccinate their stock against the disease. |
| The virus is transmitted by a small number of species of biting midges and bluetongue is most common in late summer and autumn when the midge population is at its peak. | The virus is transmitted by a small number of species of biting midges and bluetongue is most common in late summer and autumn when the midge population is at its peak. |
| Wales's Chief Veterinary Officer Christianne Glossop said making vaccination compulsory was "possible" but is urging farmers to take responsibility for their livestock. | Wales's Chief Veterinary Officer Christianne Glossop said making vaccination compulsory was "possible" but is urging farmers to take responsibility for their livestock. |
| She said: "I think it's very obvious that because of these cases people should be vaccinating. | She said: "I think it's very obvious that because of these cases people should be vaccinating. |
| "It's not a question of whether it should be compulsory or not - famers should be recognising that there is a risk in north Wales right now and they should be doing what they can to protect their stock." | "It's not a question of whether it should be compulsory or not - famers should be recognising that there is a risk in north Wales right now and they should be doing what they can to protect their stock." |
| Ms Glossop said talks would be taking place with the farmer to find out what has been happening with his stock. | Ms Glossop said talks would be taking place with the farmer to find out what has been happening with his stock. |
| "My advice would be that people should vaccinate their stock today (Wednesday) and they should consider carefully whether importations are really necessary to our industry," she said. | "My advice would be that people should vaccinate their stock today (Wednesday) and they should consider carefully whether importations are really necessary to our industry," she said. |
| My message continues to be - vaccinate now Dr Christianne Glossop | My message continues to be - vaccinate now Dr Christianne Glossop |
| Asked whether farmers in the Ruthin area should be worried, Ms Glossop said farmers throughout Wales should be concerned. | Asked whether farmers in the Ruthin area should be worried, Ms Glossop said farmers throughout Wales should be concerned. |
| "Farmers throughout Wales should be worried - this is the first time we have evidence of infected animals since we have rolled out the protection zone. | "Farmers throughout Wales should be worried - this is the first time we have evidence of infected animals since we have rolled out the protection zone. |
| "Obviously the closer to this outbreak the more worried people should be and I would suggest those farmers contact their vets today and order the vaccine," she said. | "Obviously the closer to this outbreak the more worried people should be and I would suggest those farmers contact their vets today and order the vaccine," she said. |
| Bluetongue can affect sheep (pictured) and cows but not horses or pigs. | |
| Earlier this month a bluetongue protection zone was extended to cover the whole of Wales after cases of the disease were found in Devon. | Earlier this month a bluetongue protection zone was extended to cover the whole of Wales after cases of the disease were found in Devon. |
| Ed Bailey, vice president of NFU Cymru: "It's just a great pity that farmers in Wales feel it necessary to import cattle into the country when we produce some of the best cattle in the world anyway - or sheep for that matter. | Ed Bailey, vice president of NFU Cymru: "It's just a great pity that farmers in Wales feel it necessary to import cattle into the country when we produce some of the best cattle in the world anyway - or sheep for that matter. |
| "And it seems to be although it's not illegal you know one has to think of the moral aspect of bringing infected stock into a country and the possibility of affecting other people's livelihoods because, of course, their livestock is their livelihood. | "And it seems to be although it's not illegal you know one has to think of the moral aspect of bringing infected stock into a country and the possibility of affecting other people's livelihoods because, of course, their livestock is their livelihood. |
| "These days of course we have to carry our stock off the farms and that's an extra cost as well. | "These days of course we have to carry our stock off the farms and that's an extra cost as well. |
| "In some cases incurring up to £20 a head to carry dead stock from the farm and that's an extra cost other than the initial losses of the lambs and the loss of condition on the ewes," he said. | "In some cases incurring up to £20 a head to carry dead stock from the farm and that's an extra cost other than the initial losses of the lambs and the loss of condition on the ewes," he said. |
| September is the highest risk period for the disease which is spread by midges and can be fatal to cows and sheep. | September is the highest risk period for the disease which is spread by midges and can be fatal to cows and sheep. |
| Under European livestock rules, once an area has been designated a protected zone vaccinations can be issued. | Under European livestock rules, once an area has been designated a protected zone vaccinations can be issued. |
| It cannot be passed to humans. | It cannot be passed to humans. |