Bluetongue restricted zone extended into Warwickshire
The restricted zone now spreads over 20 counties in England.
After a case of bluetongue virus serotype 3 was detected on the edge of the restricted zone in Leicestershire, the zone has been extended to include part of Warwickshire.
The restricted zone now covers Bedfordshire, part of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, City of Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, East Sussex, Essex, Greater London, part of Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, part of Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Suffolk, Surrey, part of Warwickshire, and West Sussex.
Susceptible animals within the restricted zone must only be moved if it is absolutely essential. A specific licence is needed to move a susceptible animal from within the restricted zone to outside of the zone.
Two cases in North Yorkshire have been confirmed in the past few days in animals that had been moved from premises in Norfolk before the restricted zone was put in place. Restrictions have been put in place.
There have now been over 150 cases confirmed in England since August and two in Wales.
Bluetongue is a notifiable disease. Suspected cases must be reported on 03000 200 301 in England or 03003 038 268 in Wales. In Scotland, suspected cases should be reported to the local field services office. Suspected cases in Northern Ireland should be reported to the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or by contacting the local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.
A map of the area where movement restrictions apply can be found here.
Image © Shutterstock
With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.
