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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Bluetongue found in imported herd | Bluetongue found in imported herd |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The bluetongue virus has been detected in 20 imported cows in Worcestershire. | The bluetongue virus has been detected in 20 imported cows in Worcestershire. |
| The farm near Worcester has been placed under restrictions and the cows will be culled, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) says. | The farm near Worcester has been placed under restrictions and the cows will be culled, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) says. |
| The virus was detected through routine testing of the cows, which were from a protection zone in the Netherlands. | The virus was detected through routine testing of the cows, which were from a protection zone in the Netherlands. |
| Defra said no extra exclusions were being put in place because there was no evidence that the virus was circulating in the area. | |
| The National Farmers' Union (NFU) said the case was being treated as an isolated incident on the farm and was not an "outbreak". | |
| Andrew Richards, senior policy adviser with the NFU in the West Midlands, said: "By culling the animals, if all goes to plan it should eradicate the disease." | |
| He said because of the cold weather, midges which spread the disease were not active. | |
| Ban demand | |
| "If it had been warmer weather, like we are expecting in the spring this could have been a complete disaster," he said. | |
| "If the disease got a foothold on the west of the country it could decimates the live-stock sector. " | |
| Mr Richards said the case showed failings in control measures on stock being brought in from northern Europe, because the disease should have been detected before the animals were exported or on their arrival into the UK. | |
| "The NFU wants to ban any further imports from areas of northern Europe where bluetongue is endemic," he added. | |
| The farm is within the current bluetongue surveillance zone, which was extended into Worcestershire in October. | The farm is within the current bluetongue surveillance zone, which was extended into Worcestershire in October. |
| Defra said that the decision not to extend the exclusion zones would be "kept under review" as the premises were investigated. | Defra said that the decision not to extend the exclusion zones would be "kept under review" as the premises were investigated. |
| Fred Landeg, acting chief veterinary officer, said: "As with the case of bluetongue found in an imported animal in Middlesbrough last week, this re-emphasises the importance of livestock keepers carefully considering the potential risks to UK industry as a whole from importing animals from bluetongue restricted zones." | Fred Landeg, acting chief veterinary officer, said: "As with the case of bluetongue found in an imported animal in Middlesbrough last week, this re-emphasises the importance of livestock keepers carefully considering the potential risks to UK industry as a whole from importing animals from bluetongue restricted zones." |
| In the past year the virus has affected livestock across Germany, Belgium, France, Luxembourg and Holland. | In the past year the virus has affected livestock across Germany, Belgium, France, Luxembourg and Holland. |