Advice on Bluetongue

Recent tests by DEFRA (Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs) on animals at a number of farms in the south east have shown positive for the disease Bluetongue.

These cases are the first of the disease in the country although it has been widely detected in animals in northern Europe since 2006.

Background - what is Bluetongue?

Bluetongue is an animal disease spread by two types of midges.

It does not affect humans and does not affect the food chain.

Unlike other animal diseases like foot and mouth, because it is spread by midge bites it is not spread directly from animal to animal across a herd.

It is a disease of ruminants, including sheep, cattle, deer, camelids (eg llamas) and goats.

Further information on Bluetongue can be found on the DEFRA website

Read the Declaration Order from DEFRA here(pdf, 132KB).

What does this mean for livestock owners in the London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames

The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames is in the Bluetongue Protection Zone.

The London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames enforces the Bluetongue restrictions through its Licensing Team who contract The City of London, Corporation’s Animal Health & Welfare Services team to carry out Animal Health functions on their behalf. The City of London, Corporation’s Animal Health Team can be contacted on 0208 897 6741 or via email veterinary.harc@cityoflondon.gov.uk.

Local farmers and livestock owners should be aware of the following

What movements can take place

• There are no restrictions on the movement of pigs as they are not susceptible to Bluetongue;
• You can move ruminants anywhere within the Bluetongue Protection Zone (PZ)
• You can move ruminants into the Bluetongue Surveillance Zone (SZ) for slaughter;  
• You can move ruminants to specifically licenced abattoirs outside the SZ.
• You can move ruminants into the Bluetongue PZ from the SZ, however you must then comply with the rules within the Protection Zone;

What movements can’t take place

• You cannot move animals out of the Bluetongue Control Zone unless to slaughter as outlined above.
• You cannot move animals out of the Bluetongue Control Zone unless to slaughter as outlined above.  

The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames also has a legal obligation to publish the Declaration Order(pdf, 132KB).