Ruminant Health and Welfare have issued an update on Bluetongue risk. With recent warming weather, and average daily temperatures being consistently above 12°C, bluetongue virus (BTV) transmission is now possible in high-risk counties.
While there are currently no live cases of BTV-3 in the UK, and no evidence that there is circulating bluetongue virus, with the warmer temperatures we’ve recently seen, we know that the activity of biting midges that spread the virus has increased. The development of BTV in midges also depends on the temperature.
It is now warm enough that if a midge were to come into contact with BTV-3, local virus transmission between midges and ruminants in the UK would now be possible.
Bluetongue cases are being monitored on the continent. The extent of BTV-3 transmission in nearby European countries and meteorological factors will determine whether infected biting midges are blown over from northern Europe.
During this period of warmer weather, and with disease reported on the Continent, the risk of BTV-3 being reintroduced to the UK will increase.
With the risk of local transmission now possible, Ruminant Health & Welfare reminds farmers to be aware of the BTV-3 risk for susceptible animals, apply caution and use evidence-based tactics to ACT and mitigate against the latest strain BTV-3.
Due to the proximity to the areas of Northern Europe, which are known to have been affected by BTV-3, the high-risk counties are Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Kent and East Sussex.
To stay up to date with the latest news, regulations and updates, you can visit the Ruminant Health & Welfare bluetongue hub, or farmers can call the dedicated bluetongue hotline on 024 7771 0386 to get advice or ask questions.
In the UK, bluetongue, including BTV-3, is a notifiable disease, so anyone suspecting the disease must take action and report it to the Animal and Plant Health Agency Wales – contact 0300 303 8268.