Disease import sheep 'was tested'

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The farmer whose imported sheep has tested positive for bluetongue says he worked within biosecurity rules before bringing the animal to the UK.

Jan Rodenburg said the 14 sheep he bought in the Netherlands were tested before and after a two-week quarantine.

One of the animals he brought to his farm near Llandysul, Ceredigion, has been confirmed as having bluetongue.

The sheep, the first bluetongue case in Wales, has been destroyed. Officials said Wales remains free of the disease.

Movement restrictions have been imposed on Mr Rodenburg's farm since Wales' chief veterinary officer ordered the immediate slaughter of the infected sheep.

Speaking to BBC Wales, Mr Rodenburg confirmed he had purchased the animals, at the centre of the alert, in the Netherlands.

They spent a fortnight in quarantine and were sprayed with insecticide over there Farmer Jan Rodenburg

He said he took advice on the regulations to follow during the operation to bring them to Wales.

He said: "There is one animal which has been tested and retested.

"They were negative in Holland, they spent a fortnight in quarantine and were sprayed with insecticide over there.

"After a fortnight, they were tested and the tests were negative, then we were allowed to move them."

Surveillance zone

The assembly government has described the bluetongue case as an "isolated" incident which did not change Wales' bluetongue-free status.

On Thursday, chief veterinary officer Dr Christianne Glossop said: "There is nothing to suggest the virus is circulating in Wales and we remain free of the disease.

"A similar incident occurred in Scotland last year and they too remain disease free," said Dr Glossop.

On Wednesday, parts of south east Wales and Powys were included in a surveillance zone after a case of bluetongue was confirmed in Poole in Dorset.

The bluetongue virus is spread by a species of midge and can be fatal to animals such as sheep and cows.