Bluetongue jab zone is extended

Livestock restrictions are to be imposed in Northumberland and Cumbria in an effort to combat bluetongue.

A protection zone, already in force in other parts of the UK, will be extended into the areas after 1 September.

The move means livestock keepers will have to vaccinate animals and limits will be imposed on the movement of animals in and out of the zone.

The virus, spread by midges, was first reported in the UK in 2007. Since then, almost 130 farms have been infected.

A spokesman for Defra said: "The intention is to roll out the protection zone to both Northumberland and Cumbria in one single extension, in line with scheduled vaccine delivery.

"This will complete the vaccination roll-out by bringing the whole of England into the zone.

"Protection zone restrictions will apply to those keepers coming into the extended zone.

"Animals can only be moved out of the zone if they are vaccinated, naturally immune or moving for slaughter.

"The time of year and weather conditions mean there is an increasing risk of re-emergence of disease in UK. The absence of new cases in England so far is no cause for complacency."

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Defra
National Farmers' Union
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites