Bluetongue FAQ
Background
1. What is Bluetongue?
2. What are the symptoms?
Disease Spread
3. How is bluetongue spread?
4. How do we think the first animal in the UK caught the disease?
Disease Controls
5. What controls were put in place initially?
6. What movement restrictions and other controls are in operation now?
7. Can I move my livestock in Scotland?
8. Can I move animals from Scotland to Free Areas in England or Wales?
9. Can I move animals through or to a Restricted Zone?
10. What disinfectants are effective against bluetongue?
11. What insecticides can I use to protect my animals from vectors that can transmit bluetongue virus?
12. What biosecurity precautions can I take to protect my ruminant animals from bluetongue?
Public Health
13. Is bluetongue a concern for public health reasons?
14. Is meat safe to eat?
15. Will the countryside be closed?
16. What should I do if I have visited an affected livestock premises?
Economic Impact
17. What impact will this have on exports from the affected areas?
18. How are exports from the rest of Great Britain affected?
Vaccination
19. Can susceptible animals be vaccinated against Bluetongue?
20. How will vaccine be made available in Scotland to protect susceptible livestock against Bluetongue?
21. When will farmers in Scotland be able to vaccinate their livestock against Bluetongue?
22. Vaccine cost
23. Implications of vaccination for trade
24. Will I loose my organic status if I vaccinate against Bluetongue?
25. What if my farm holding straddles the border of England and Scotland?
Background
1. What is Bluetongue?
Bluetongue is a notifiable midge-borne viral disease which can infect all ruminants, such as cattle, goat, deer and, in particular, sheep and camelids such as llama's and alpacas. Bluetongue is different from many other diseases in that disease is confirmed only when there is evidence of it circulating in the midge population rather than when a single infected animal is identified.
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2. What are the symptoms?
Clinical signs in sheep can include: fever; swelling of the head and neck; inflammation and ulceration of the mucous membrane of the mouth, nose and eyelids; lameness; muscle degeneration and blood/serum leaking from blood vessels into surrounding tissue; haemorrhages in the skin and other tissues; respiratory signs such as froth in the lungs and an inability to swallow and discolouration and swelling of the tongue.
Although bluetongue usually causes no apparent illness in cattle or goats, cattle are displaying clinical signs during the current outbreak in Northern Europe, including: nasal discharge; swelling and ulceration of the mouth and swollen teats.
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Disease Spread
3. How is bluetongue spread?
Bluetongue can generally only be transmitted by the bite of certain species of midge - it does not spread directly from animal to animal. However, there is evidence that the BTV8 virus currently in the UK can be transmitted from mother to young during pregnancy. The disease can be spread geographically both by vector movements and the movements of infected animals that local midges at the destination then bite.
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4. How do we think the first animal in the UK caught the disease?
Defra has published the first epidemiology report into the UK Bluetongue outbreak, based on the situation up to 19th October. The report concluded that the infection was likely to have been initially introduced into Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex on the night of 4th/5th August by windborne transmission of infected midges from continental Europe.
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Disease Controls
5. What controls were put in place initially?
While investigations were ongoing prior to active disease being confirmed on 28th September, a Bluetongue Temporary Control Area was put in place. Movements of susceptible animals out of the TCA were prohibited. Once disease was confirmed as circulating, a Control Zone ( CZ) and a wider surrounding Bluetongue Protection Zone ( BPZ) were put in place around the areas in England where cases were identified.
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6. What movement restrictions and other controls are in operation now?
On 2nd November following a new EU regulation on Bluetongue coming into effect, Defra changed the names of the existing zones: the central zone around the infected premises is now a Bluetongue Protection Zone (BPZ) (there are currently two separate PZs), surrounded by a larger Bluetongue Surveillance Zone (BSZ). Together they are called the Bluetongue Restricted Zone. For up to date information on where the boundaries of the zones in England are, please see the Defra website (http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/bluetongue/index.htm).
Measures within the zones include:
i) Movement restrictions on animals, ovum, semen and embryos;
ii) Advice on methods for controlling midges;
iii) Requirements for insecticide use when moving animals;
iv) Epidemiological investigations throughout the infected area.
Licences are in place to allow certain specific movements under strictly controlled conditions, for example movements to slaughter, attendance at markets, and farm to farm movements. For information on licences and conditions for moving out of the RZ in England, please see the Defra website (http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/bluetongue/index.htm).
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7. Can I move my livestock in Scotland?
Yes. Movement restrictions are only in place in the Bluetongue Protection Zones (BPZ) and the Bluetongue Surveillance Zone (BSZ) around the affected area in England.
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8. Can I move animals from Scotland to Free Areas in England or Wales?
Yes. Movements of susceptible animals to free areas in England and Wales are unrestricted provided that the route does not pass through the bluetongue restricted zone.
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9. Can I move animals through or to a Restricted Zone?
Yes. Movements of animals 'up' the risk zones (i.e. from free area to SZ, from SZ to PZ) are unrestricted.
Journeys to a free area in England and Wales that involve passing through a restricted zone require a transit licence from Defra. This can be obtained at:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/bluetongue/movements/index.htm#l3a
Under the conditions of a transit licence, the move through the Restricted Zone must be direct and by the route that is considered likely to be the quickest available; however, a scheduled rest stop in the Restricted Zone is permitted. Multiple pick-ups or drop-offs are not permitted under the terms of this licence.
Where multiple deliveries are required both within and outside the restricted zone, drop-offs in free areas should be conducted first (including any that require transit through the RZ), then drop-offs in the SZ, and finally any drop-offs in the PZ. This will ensure that the vehicle is empty of susceptible animals when returning 'down' the risk zones from PZ to SZ and from SZ to free area and avoids triggering the requirement for pre-movement testing.
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10. What disinfectants are effective against bluetongue?
Due to the midge-borne nature of the disease, additional cleansing and disinfection is not generally required. However, a full list of disinfectants and dilutions approved for use can be found in The Diseases of Animals (Approved Disinfectants) Amendment (Scotland) Order 2006 (2006 No. 352). This can be obtained from the OPSI website at:
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/ssi2006/ssi_20060352_en.pdf. Hardcopies can be obtained from The Stationary Office Ltd (TSO): TSO, PO Box 29, Norwich, NR3 1GN, Tel: 0870 600 5522, Fax: 0870 600 5533, or possibly through your local library.
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11. What insecticides can I use to protect my animals from vectors that can transmit bluetongue virus?
A list of Health and Safety Executive (HSE) authorised insecticides for use against flying insects in animal housings or similar areas such as abattoirs can be found by accessing the links below. Please pay particular attention to the guidance notes. If in doubt please contact your local SEPA office. The list is for guidance purposes only, and is not a definitive list.
A list of insecticides approved by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate is on the Defra website under "Guidance on use of insecticides for treatment of animal vehicles":
http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/bluetongue/movements/guidance.htm
Insectisides licensed by the Health and Safety Executive can be found at:
http://webcommunities.hse.gov.uk/inovem/inovem.ti/pesticides/view?objectId=2308
Information on insecticides approved for use on cattle can be found at:
http://www.noahcompendium.co.uk/Therapeutic_Indication/Therapeutic_Indication/-70.html
Information on insecticides approved for use on sheep can be found at:
http://www.noahcompendium.co.uk/Therapeutic_Indication/Therapeutic_Indication/-71.html
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12. What biosecurity precautions can I take to protect my ruminant animals from bluetongue?
As bluetongue is only transmitted via an insect vector (midge) additional cleaning and disinfecting is not required, other than that routinely used as protection against infection from other diseases. However there are other biosecurity precautions that you can take:
- Be vigilant. The clinical signs of bluetongue are outlined above - please ensure that you are familiar with these and inspect your livestock regularly. If you suspect the presence of the disease, contact your local Animal Health office immediately.
- Be cautious when sourcing replacement livestock. Where possible, avoid importing livestock either originating or transiting bluetongue restricted zones. Where this is not possible, ensure that livestock are symptom free before despatch and protected with insecticide whilst travelling.
- Remember that you must have imports tested. Ensure that all ruminant livestock imported from affected countries are tested for bluetongue within 10 days of arrival and that negative results are obtained before any onward movement.
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Public Health
13. Is bluetongue a concern for public health reasons?
No. Bluetongue is a disease of ruminant animals, and it does not affect humans. There are no public health implications.
14. Is meat safe to eat?
Yes. Bluetongue does not affect humans, and there are no food safety implications. In addition, the bluetongue virus requires live hosts, either ruminant or midge, to survive.
15. Will the countryside be closed?
No. Access to the countryside will remain open
16. What should I do if I have visited an affected livestock premises?
The Health Protection Agency advise that people who have visited the affected premises do not need to be concerned that there is any risk to their health. If visiting farms where animals can be touched or stroked, people should always wash their hands after contact with the animals.
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Economic Impact
17. What impact will this have on exports from the affected areas?
Exports of live susceptible animals, their semen, ova and embryos are banned from the restricted zones unless they comply with stringent conditions laid down in EU rules. These involve comprehensive testing and full protection from vector attack and are probably only practical for a few particularly high value exports. Once circulation of disease has been confirmed, normal export cannot resume until a surveillance programme has proven the area to be bluetongue free for 2 years.
There are no restrictions on the export of meat or other animals products.
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18. How are exports from the rest of Great Britain affected?
Export from the rest of GB is not affected unless the route transits an infected area, in which case the animals and vehicle would need to be sprayed with insecticide.
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Vaccination
19. Can susceptible animals be vaccinated against Bluetongue?
Yes - animals within a bluetongue protection zone can be vaccinated as part of an official vaccination campaign. Vaccines for several strains of the disease already exist. Unfortunately many of these are made using live virus and can cause disease in European species. Several companies have been developing an inactivated vaccine for BTV8, the strain of Bluetongue disease which has reached parts of England. The first batch of vaccine ordered by Defra for use in England was released for use within the UKPZ on 30th April 2008.
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20. How will vaccine be made available inScotland to protect susceptible livestock against Bluetongue?
On 10th April, the Scottish Government began the procurement process for up to 12 million doses of BTV8 vaccine at the request of Scottish industry stakeholders. It is expected that a contract will be awarded by the end of June.
The Scottish vaccination programme will be compulsory for sheep and cattle and voluntary for other ruminant/camelid species, with vaccine administered by farmers except where veterinary administration is required (e.g. for movement of animals out of the PZ). A detailed vaccination plan is being developed in partnership with the Scottish livestock industry.
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21. When will farmers in Scotland be able to vaccinate their livestock against Bluetongue?
Under EU law vaccination is only permitted in a Protection Zone. The veterinary advice is that any vaccination campaign would be most effectively delivered during the vector free period in the winter.
In the absence of disease, it is unlikely that earlier vaccination will be considered. Once Scotland becomes part of a protection zone, infected animals can move to Scotland freely putting Scottish livestock at risk. Waiting until the vector free period before implementing a vaccination campaign means that vaccinated animals will be fully protected before midge activity rises to a level able to support disease transmission from any infected animals that have moved to Scotland.
Should disease arrive in Scotland before the vector-free period, available vaccine will be released for use within any protection zone declared, subject to veterinary advice at the time.
Any provision of vaccine by the Scottish Government will require Commission state aid exemption using the Block Exemption regulation before the vaccination programme can commence.
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22. Vaccine cost
In Scotland there are 7.5m sheep and 1.9m cattle. The costs per dose will be dependent on the outcome of a full and open tender. However, it is anticipated that an order of 12 million doses will cost about £6m. The Scottish Government's aim will be to secure best value for money.
The Scottish Government have agreed to provide 50% of the costs of the purchase of vaccine, up to a maximum of £3m, for the first year only of a vaccination programme. This is subject to European Commission State Aid approval. Industry will meet the remaining costs of the vaccine and the total cost of vaccine administration in this and future years.
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23. Implications of vaccination for trade
Properly conducted vaccination will facilitate safe year-round trade from areas affected by bluetongue.
Where vaccinated animals are intended for trade within the EU, vaccination must have been performed by a vet and the Health Certificate must provide the date the animal(s) were vaccinated, which serotype vaccination was against, and whether it was with an inactivated or a modified live virus vaccine.
In line with this international requirement, Scotland will only accept vaccinated animals into areas free of bluetongue if those animals have been individually identified and vaccinated by a vet, and that vaccination has been kept up to date with the required boosters. Similarly, once Scotland is vaccinating, susceptible animals will need to be individually identified and vaccinated by a vet, and the vaccination will need to be up to date with the required boosters in order for animals to leave the protection zone.
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24. Will I loose my organic status if I vaccinate against Bluetongue?
No. Vaccine use in organic livestock production is permitted and encourage where risks are identified. The Soil Association recognise that with exotic viruses such as bluetongue, levels of immunity in the UK will be low or non existent and that the best approach to the control of bluetongue in the current situation is to vaccinate.
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25. What if my farm holding straddles the border of England and Scotland?
If part of your premises is in the English Protection Zone then the whole premises will be included and the appropriate conditions will apply.
Restrictions only apply to the premises wholly or partly in the Protection Zone. No restrictions will apply and no vaccination will be allowed on geographically separate holdings in Scotland.
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