Bluetongue – A message for Warwickshire’s Farming Community, issued by Warwickshire Trading Standards

Warwickshire Trading Standards has updated their Animal Disease Control and Outbreaks web page with an update on Bluetongue.

Following reports of clinical suspicion in sheep and cattle on two new premises in Norfolk and Suffolk, bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) has been confirmed at these premises.

Bluetongue is a notifiable disease caused by infection with bluetongue virus. Bluetongue virus is mainly spread by biting midges.

Bluetongue virus affects:

• sheep
• cattle
• other ruminants such as deer and goats
• camelids such as llamas and alpacas
• Rarely, bluetongue can affect dogs and other carnivores if they eat infected material (such as aborted material and afterbirth).

It does not affect people or food safety, but outbreaks can result in prolonged animal movement and trade restrictions.

For updates, please visit: https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/farming/animal-health-advice/2