Defra eases bluetongue control measures amid reduced vector activity

Defra has announced that the UK is now in a seasonally low vector period when midge activity is reduced, leading to some changes to disease control measures for bluetongue.

BTV-3 is the new strain of bluetongue currently being found in northern Europe and UK, transmitted via biting midge, affecting cattle, goats, sheep and camelids such as llamas.

As of 2 February, there are 70 bluetongue cases in England on 43 farms and premises, spread across three counties - Kent, Norfolk and Suffolk.

The counties are still in a temporary control zone (TCZ) since the initial outbreak of bluetongue in mid-November, which was the UK's first case since 2007.