Bluetongue
Current Situation
Scotland remains a 'bluetongue free area'. For background on the disease see the bluetongue background page.
CARE NEEDED OVER BLUETONGUE MOVEMENTS DURING THE SALE SEASON
Defra have announced that roll out of bluetongue vaccine to the last two counties of Cumbria and Northumberland will be made available from 1 September 2008 at the earliest. This means that from that date all of England and part of Wales will be a Bluetongue Protection Zone. Anyone thinking of selling at or buying from sales must establish if the market is within the Protection Zone. Animals leaving a Protection Zone must meet the relevant movement conditions and have the correct documentation before moving/returning to Scotland.
The protection zone in England is being expanded to allow vaccination to occur, not because of new disease. As such no surveillance zone, and associated restrictions on Scottish producers, are required.
At present, the only animals allowed to move direct to Scotland from a Protection Zone are cattle and sheep that have been vaccinated either;
a) 35 days after vaccination has been completed if they have tested negative to bluetongue virus (PCR test) or
b) 60 days after vaccination has been completed.
Anyone recieving animals brought to Scotland must notify the Scottish Government details of any bluetongue susceptible animal that has been in a Bluetongue Restricted Zone in the previous 60 days via a Post Movement Notification Document ( PMND). Animals vaccinated against bluetongue must be accompanied by a veterinary certificate of vaccination (note: NOT a veterinary prescription) proving they have been vaccinated by a vet and in time to be moved legally. Both the PMND and veterinary certificate of vaccination should be faxed by the keeper to Veterinary Division, Pentland House (details are provided on the PMND). The PMND can be downloaded from the bluetongue ' movements' section.
Failure to observe these controls could result in fines of up to £5,000 or 6 months imprisonment.
Information on the current bluetongue zones in England and Wales and the vaccination campaign in England can be found on The Department for Food and Rural Affairs ( Defra) website ( http://www.defra.gov.uk/).
As with any notifiable disease, if you suspect that livestock may be infected with bluetongue, you must contact your local animal health office immediately.