Two new cases of Bluetongue

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has confirmed changes to the Bluetongue Protection and Surveillance Zones, following confirmation of disease on premises within the current zones.

In accordance with the UK Bluetongue Control Strategy and EU legislation, one case in Hertfordshire requires the Protection Zone to be extended further into Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire. A separate case found in the Surveillance Zone has required the Protection Zone to extend further into Norfolk and Lincolnshire, and the Surveillance Zone further into North and West Yorkshire.

The infected animals were found as a result of pre-movement testing required to move animals out of zones in the vector-free period, which ended on 15 March.

All evidence suggests that these animals were infected before the vector-free period.