A case of bluetongue has been confirmed in the UK with people reminded that vigilance is key to stopping the spread. Bluetongue is an Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), mainly impacting sheep as well as cattle, yaks, goats, buffalo, deer, dromedaries, and antelope.
The disease is non-contagious and is transmitted by the midges.A case of the new emerging strain of the virus, BTV-3, has been confirmed in a single cow on a farm in Kent following routine surveillance by the Ruminant Health & Welfare (RH&W) .
Bluetongue does not affect people or food safety, but outbreaks can result in prolonged animal movement and trade restrictions, according to the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra).
The last outbreak in England, Scotland or Wales was in 2007.The new emerging strain has been spreading in Europe in recent months, with no current vaccine to tackle the virus mutation.
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