Agenda Item No.
4
HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
RURAL AFFAIRS CABINET PANEL
Information Report
TUESDAY 6 MAY 2008 2.00 P.M.
BLUETONGUE UPDATE
Executive Member: Stuart Pile (Highways, Transport and Rural Affairs)
Report of the Director of Environment
Author: Simon Aries, Head of Access, Heritage and Estates
Tel: 01992 555255
1.
Purpose of the report
1.1
To bring the Panel up-to-date with the current situation
concerning Bluetongue.
2.
Background
2.1
Attached as an Appendix is an extract from the briefing note
given to the Panel on 18 October 2007. This provides some
broad background and detail on the disease and its cause.
2.2
The first cases of Bluetongue were confirmed in the south east
of the UK and Hertfordshire was part of an extensive ‘protection
zone’ which led to the imposition of certain livestock movement
restrictions. The briefing note of 18 October 2007 highlighted
some examples of the impacts of these movement restrictions
but they were not extensive and only affected a small number of
properties.
2.3
Rather confusingly Defra changed the names and designations
of the Bluetongue zones in November 2007 which meant that
Hertfordshire fell within a ‘surveillance zone’ and areas with
infected animals classed as ‘protection zones’.
2.4
In late March 2008 four cases of Bluetongue were confirmed in
Hertfordshire (since then a further case has also been
confirmed) and the protection zone was extended to cover all
infected premises. This widening of the zone extended along
the east coast northwards and a separate protection zone was
established in Hampshire and Dorset. A copy of the most
recent and up-to-date map showing the protection and
surveillance zones in the UK will be tabled at the Panel
meeting.
533558025
1
3.
What Next?
3.1
The extent of the current protection zone and the fact that
around 50% of England is now classed as a surveillance zone
means that, while livestock movement restrictions are in place,
their impact has diminished and the vast majority of livestock
farmers are able to manage the consequences. This is helped
by a licensing regime that can be used in particular
circumstances to aid movement e.g. on welfare grounds, albeit
under strict rules.
3.2
As Bluetongue poses no health risk to humans and cannot be
spread by normal contact between animals, no access
restrictions are necessary in the countryside although, where
appropriate, bio security is increased as a matter of routine at
infected premises. The impact of a Bluetongue outbreak on a
particular farm can have serious economic consequences e.g.
reduced milk production, a drop in fertility, need to quarantine
stock etc.
3.3
To date, no Rural Estate tenants have had infected stock and
Aldenham Country Park is operating as normal.
3.4
Early in April the Department for Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs (Defra) released details of a strategy for rolling out
vaccination across England. Under EU law, vaccination can
only be carried out in a protection zone (of which Hertfordshire
is part). As vaccine deliveries get underway (expected in early
May) the programme will commence in the protection zone only.
Demand for the vaccine is likely to be high but Defra have
ordered 22.5 million doses and livestock keepers will be allowed
to administer vaccine to their own animals.
3.5
It should be noted that the vaccine is only for the BTV8 strain
that is currently circulating in the UK. Other strains of
Bluetongue are present in other parts of Europe and if these
were to enter the UK the vaccine would not be effective against
them.
3.6
When the vaccine is available vulnerable stock at Aldenham
Country Park will be vaccinated. An order is already in place
and the cost is expected to be in the region of £1 to £1.50 per
animal.
4.
Recommendation
That the contents of this report are noted.
533558025
2
Appendix
BLUETONGUE
Definition
Bluetongue (BT) is a disease of animals affecting all ruminants,
including sheep, cattle, deer, goats and camelids. It does not affect
horses. Sheep are most severely affected but cattle are the main
‘carriers’ and are very important in the epidemiology of the disease.
The disease is caused by a virus spread by certain types of biting
midges. BT does not affect humans and poses no food safety
risks.
History & Spread of the Disease
BT was first described in South Africa but has since been recognised
in most countries in the tropics and sub-tropics. Since 1999 there
have been widespread outbreaks of BT in Greece, Italy, France and
Spain. Cases have also occurred in Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia,
Kosovo and Yugoslavia. It appears that the virus has spread from
both Turkey and North Africa.
BT has never previously been recorded in the UK where there are no
vaccines authorised for use. Vaccines have been developed in South
Africa for use on local breeds of sheep but these can cause clinical
disease (which may be severe) in European sheep breeds. Vaccines
have been used in Europe, but this has led to transmission in the field
and mixing between vaccine and field strains. Inactive vaccines are
currently being developed but they are not expected to be available in
the short/medium term. No vaccines are suitable against the current
outbreak in Northern Europe.
Cause
BT is caused by a virus transmitted by a small number of species of
biting midges and cannot naturally be transmitted directly between
animals. However, the likelihood of mechanical transmission of the
virus between and within herds/flocks by unhygienic practices (e.g.
use of contaminated surgical equipment or hypodermic needles)
cannot be excluded.
When a midge bites an infected animal, the virus passes to the midge
in the blood meal and multiples. The cycle of replication of the virus in
the insect and the ruminant host, results in an increase of the amount
of virus available to uninfected native hosts and vectors.
Peak populations of midges occur in the late summer and autumn and
therefore this is the time when BT is most commonly seen. From
initial studies it is estimated that a midge can travel up to 1.5 – 2 km a
day in a local area. However, if caught in suitable weather conditions
midges can be carried more than 200 km.
533558025
3
Precautions taken to keep disease out of the UK





All imports of susceptible animals from restricted areas in EU
Member States affected by BT are banned.
All susceptible animals from BT virus free EU Member States or
zones (not including Ireland) are post-import tested for BT
(imports back to May 2006 were tested, and have all tested
negative).
Daily meteorological surveillance is undertaken to assess the
risk of wind borne spread of midges from affected countries to
the UK.
Encouraging vigilance amongst the farming community and
vets to ensure early reporting of the disease (BT is a notifiable
disease and suspicion of disease must be reported).
Defra is raising awareness of the disease through
dissemination of information leaflets to farmers and vets,
through adverts in appropriate publications, and publicity
campaigns at livestock markets etc.
533558025
4