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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Two more bluetongue cases found | Two more bluetongue cases found |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Two new outbreaks of bluetongue disease have been confirmed, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has said. | Two new outbreaks of bluetongue disease have been confirmed, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has said. |
| The cases, in Peterborough and at Ashford in Kent, follow previous outbreaks in East Anglia. | |
| Mr Benn said two new control zones would be brought in, and the protection zone already in place from Lincolnshire to East Sussex would be extended. | Mr Benn said two new control zones would be brought in, and the protection zone already in place from Lincolnshire to East Sussex would be extended. |
| Bluetongue is a non-contagious virus spread by a midge species, affecting ruminants including sheep and cattle. | Bluetongue is a non-contagious virus spread by a midge species, affecting ruminants including sheep and cattle. |
| It can also affect goats and deer. | It can also affect goats and deer. |
| 'Industry dilemma' | |
| Mr Benn told the Commons the new cases were confirmed as a result of reporting by two farmers and were confirmed by tests. | Mr Benn told the Commons the new cases were confirmed as a result of reporting by two farmers and were confirmed by tests. |
| Given the nature of this disease and its means of spread, this is not entirely unexpected Fred Landeg Deputy chief veterinary officer | |
| He said: "We need to try and contain the disease in the east of England if possible. | |
| "The issue is, at what point should we face up to declaring all of England a bluetongue control zone and accept living with the disease? | |
| "This is a real dilemma for the industry. Above all it is the industry that has the greatest interest in making the right decision. | |
| "That is why we will be having further discussions with the industry group on this in the light of today's development." | |
| 'Unwelcome news' | |
| Defra said the latest cases were both within the current protection zone. | Defra said the latest cases were both within the current protection zone. |
| Stricter 20km (12-mile) control zones had already been set up in East Anglia around known bluetongue cases | |
| Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer Fred Landeg said: "This is obviously unwelcome news for the farming industry. However, given the nature of this disease and its means of spread, this is not entirely unexpected. | Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer Fred Landeg said: "This is obviously unwelcome news for the farming industry. However, given the nature of this disease and its means of spread, this is not entirely unexpected. |
| "We will carry out further investigations on these farms, and in the surrounding area to assess the disease situation and possible sources of incursion. | "We will carry out further investigations on these farms, and in the surrounding area to assess the disease situation and possible sources of incursion. |
| "Once again, we are grateful for the vigilance of farmers in reporting disease, and urge them to remain vigilant. | "Once again, we are grateful for the vigilance of farmers in reporting disease, and urge them to remain vigilant. |
| "We will continue to work with our core industry group to assess the disease situation and develop the disease control strategy in partnership with the farming industry." | "We will continue to work with our core industry group to assess the disease situation and develop the disease control strategy in partnership with the farming industry." |
| Restrictions lifted | |
| Ashford's MP, Conservative Damian Green, said the "terrible outbreak" would affect farmers across the south-east who used the town's market. | |
| He urged Mr Benn to give some indication of the time period during which the effects of the disease and the restrictions on the movement of animals would last. | |
| Up to Tuesday a total of 41 bluetongue cases had been detected since the first outbreak on 22 September. | |
| Meanwhile, bans on livestock movement in low-risk foot-and-mouth disease areas across the UK have now been lifted. | |
| The disease protection zone in Surrey has also been removed after no further cases emerged, but a wider 10km (6.2-mile) surveillance zone around affected farms is expected to remain in place until 5 November. | |
| The foot-and-mouth risk area - covering Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire, Berkshire, Surrey, Hampshire and West Sussex - will also remain, but come under "continual review". |