This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7008925.stm
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Further bluetongue tests at farm | Further bluetongue tests at farm |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| 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 | 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 infected cow is expected to be culled as a precaution. Tests on other livestock are being conducted. | The infected cow is expected to be culled as a precaution. Tests on other livestock are being conducted. |
| It would not be classed as an outbreak unless other cases were confirmed, Mr Landeg said. | 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 class="" href="/1/hi/uk/6996047.stm">Farmer's diary | |
| 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 |
| National Farmers' Union president Peter Kendall said the bluetongue case had come as a shock to the industry but that he was hopeful that there would be no major outbreak. | National Farmers' Union president Peter Kendall said the bluetongue case had come as a shock to the industry but that he was hopeful that there would be no major outbreak. |
| "I'm optimistic this can be quite an isolated localised case and going into winter these midges aren't as active as they would have been if this had happened two or three months ago." | "I'm optimistic this can be quite an isolated localised case and going into winter these midges aren't as active as they would have been if this had happened two or three months ago." |
| The effects of bluetongue can be severe, but animals can recover | The effects of bluetongue can be severe, but animals can recover |
| The president of the British Veterinary Association, David Catlow, said he feared the disease may become prevalent in the UK. | The president of the British Veterinary Association, David Catlow, said he feared the disease may become prevalent in the UK. |
| "At the moment if this becomes established in the UK, as it seems to have become established in northern Europe, the only way we will really control it is when we have a vaccination, and that isn't yet available. | "At the moment if this becomes established in the UK, as it seems to have become established in northern Europe, the only way we will really control it is when we have a vaccination, and that isn't yet available. |
| "We're possibly a year away before the development of some new, inactivated vaccines that will be the way ultimately to control it." | "We're possibly a year away before the development of some new, inactivated vaccines that will be the way ultimately to control it." |
| 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. |
| Lasting effects | Lasting effects |
| 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. |
| 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%. |
| 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. |