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| Further bluetongue tests at farm | Further bluetongue tests at farm |
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| Further tests are being carried out at a Suffolk farm to determine whether any more animals have been affected by the UK's first case of bluetongue disease. | Further tests are being carried out at a Suffolk farm to determine whether any more animals have been affected by the UK's first case of bluetongue disease. |
| The insect-borne virus, which has killed livestock across Europe, was in a cow on the farm near Ipswich. | The insect-borne virus, which has killed livestock across Europe, was in a cow on the farm near Ipswich. |
| Farmers say the presence of the disease in the UK is "devastating news" for an industry already struggling with the foot-and-mouth outbreak in Surrey. | Farmers say the presence of the disease in the UK is "devastating news" for an industry already struggling with the foot-and-mouth outbreak in Surrey. |
| Cattle, sheep, goats and deer can be infected, but humans are not at risk. | Cattle, sheep, goats and deer can be infected, but humans are not at risk. |
| Treatment | |
| There have been nearly 3,000 cases of bluetongue in Northern Europe - including the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany - since July, which had fuelled fears of its arrival in the UK. | There have been nearly 3,000 cases of bluetongue in Northern Europe - including the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany - since July, which had fuelled fears of its arrival in the UK. |
| The government's deputy chief veterinary officer, Fred Landeg, confirmed the infected cow was on a small cattle and sheep farm outside Ipswich. | The government's deputy chief veterinary officer, Fred Landeg, confirmed the infected cow was on a small cattle and sheep farm outside Ipswich. |
| The BBC understands the affected cow will not be culled but will be treated. Tests were being conducted overnight to determine whether any other livestock are infected. | |
| Further results are expected later. | |
| It would not be classed as an outbreak unless other cases were confirmed, Mr Landeg said. | |
| This is absolutely devastating news. The industry has been fearful that this would happen James MulleneuxNational Farmers Union Q&A: Bluetongue disease | This is absolutely devastating news. The industry has been fearful that this would happen James MulleneuxNational Farmers Union Q&A: Bluetongue disease |
| "In Europe, where this virus has been circulating in quite an extensive outbreak this season, there has been significant illness in sheep and cattle and loss of production," Mr Landeg said. | "In Europe, where this virus has been circulating in quite an extensive outbreak this season, there has been significant illness in sheep and cattle and loss of production," Mr Landeg said. |
| If the virus has spread, he said, the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) would impose a 20km (12.4m) control zone around the infected farm. | If the virus has spread, he said, the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) would impose a 20km (12.4m) control zone around the infected farm. |
| The discovery of bluetongue disease came after another case of foot-and-mouth disease was confirmed in Surrey. | The discovery of bluetongue disease came after another case of foot-and-mouth disease was confirmed in Surrey. |
| On Saturday cattle on the sixth premises to test positive since the disease was first discovered in August - and the fourth in the past 11 days - were slaughtered and the protection zone extended. | On Saturday cattle on the sixth premises to test positive since the disease was first discovered in August - and the fourth in the past 11 days - were slaughtered and the protection zone extended. |
| Farming leaders said the discovery of bluetongue had come at a bad time for an industry already struggling with movement and export restrictions imposed because of foot-and-mouth. | Farming leaders said the discovery of bluetongue had come at a bad time for an industry already struggling with movement and export restrictions imposed because of foot-and-mouth. |
| Economic impact | Economic impact |
| "This is absolutely devastating news," said James Mulleneux, of the National Farmers' Union. | "This is absolutely devastating news," said James Mulleneux, of the National Farmers' Union. |
| "The industry has been fearful that this would happen in England." | "The industry has been fearful that this would happen in England." |
| Professor Hugh Pennington, a microbiologist, said further wide-ranging zones restricting animal movements would have a severe economic impact on the farming industry. | Professor Hugh Pennington, a microbiologist, said further wide-ranging zones restricting animal movements would have a severe economic impact on the farming industry. |
| The effects of bluetongue can be severe, but animals can recover | The effects of bluetongue can be severe, but animals can recover |
| "It would be very bad news if [bluetongue disease] got established here," he said. | "It would be very bad news if [bluetongue disease] got established here," he said. |
| Bluetongue disease is transmitted by the Culicoides imicola midge. It is passed from animal to midge, and from midge to animal, but is not transmitted from animal to animal. | Bluetongue disease is transmitted by the Culicoides imicola midge. It is passed from animal to midge, and from midge to animal, but is not transmitted from animal to animal. |
| The virus has long blighted Africa, but in recent years has begun to spread northwards into Europe. | The virus has long blighted Africa, but in recent years has begun to spread northwards into Europe. |
| Some scientists believe that climate change could be behind its spread, as warmer temperatures have seen the biting insects gradually move north. | Some scientists believe that climate change could be behind its spread, as warmer temperatures have seen the biting insects gradually move north. |
| Animals with the disease experience discomfort, with flu-like symptoms, and swelling and haemorrhaging in and around the mouth and nose. | Animals with the disease experience discomfort, with flu-like symptoms, and swelling and haemorrhaging in and around the mouth and nose. |
| They can also go lame and have difficulty eating properly. | They can also go lame and have difficulty eating properly. |
| No vaccine | No vaccine |
| Defra said that bluetongue was different from foot-and-mouth, but many precautions already in place could help to control its spread. | Defra said that bluetongue was different from foot-and-mouth, but many precautions already in place could help to control its spread. |
| Once infected, up to 70% of a flock of sheep can die from the virus. While infected animals can recover - and become immune - productivity is reduced with milk yields in dairy herds dropping by about 40%. | Once infected, up to 70% of a flock of sheep can die from the virus. While infected animals can recover - and become immune - productivity is reduced with milk yields in dairy herds dropping by about 40%. |
| No vaccine is available currently for the strain of the disease that has hit Northern Europe, where export and animal movement bans have been imposed following outbreaks. | No vaccine is available currently for the strain of the disease that has hit Northern Europe, where export and animal movement bans have been imposed following outbreaks. |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown was briefed after arriving in Bournemouth for the Labour Party conference, and the BBC's Carole Walker said he was prepared to chair a meeting of the emergency committee Cobra on Sunday if an outbreak was confirmed. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown was briefed after arriving in Bournemouth for the Labour Party conference, and the BBC's Carole Walker said he was prepared to chair a meeting of the emergency committee Cobra on Sunday if an outbreak was confirmed. |
| Are you a farmer or resident living near the outbreak? What is your reaction to this story? Send us your comments by filling out the form below. | Are you a farmer or resident living near the outbreak? What is your reaction to this story? Send us your comments by filling out the form below. |