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| Bluetongue declared an outbreak | Bluetongue declared an outbreak |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| The five cases of bluetongue virus found in animals in the UK have been declared an official outbreak by government officials. | |
| Deputy chief vet Fred Landeg said test results had shown the disease, which is transmitted by biting midges, was circulating among livestock. | Deputy chief vet Fred Landeg said test results had shown the disease, which is transmitted by biting midges, was circulating among livestock. |
| So far there have been five confirmed cases of the disease. All the animals which tested positive have been culled. | So far there have been five confirmed cases of the disease. All the animals which tested positive have been culled. |
| The latest case was found at a farm near Burstall in Suffolk. | The latest case was found at a farm near Burstall in Suffolk. |
| European spread | |
| Mr Landeg told a news conference that laboratory results and further cases of bluetongue disease in Suffolk indicated bluetongue was circulating in the animal and the midge populations in the county. | |
| 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. | |
| Map of Suffolk bluetongue cases | Map of Suffolk bluetongue cases |
| Mr Landeg said: "We had a meeting of our bluetongue expert group, and taking that advice and given the recent experience in northern Europe, I can now confirm we do have bluetongue virus circulating in this country." | |
| The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) announced the fifth case on Thursday. | The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) announced the fifth case on Thursday. |
| Other cases were confirmed at Washbrook near Ipswich, a farm in Lound and in two animals on a rare breeds farm in Baylham, near Ipswich. | Other cases were confirmed at Washbrook near Ipswich, a farm in Lound and in two animals on a rare breeds farm in Baylham, near Ipswich. |
| The strain, first detected on Saturday, is the same as one that has killed livestock in Europe but the UK cases are not yet classed as an outbreak. | The strain, first detected on Saturday, is the same as one that has killed livestock in Europe but the UK cases are not yet classed as an outbreak. |
| Animal to midge | Animal to midge |
| The virus is spread by midges and affects cattle, sheep, goats and deer. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| Back to top | Back to top |