FARMERS have been urged to be on the look-out for Bluetongue, a fatal disease affecting cattle, sheep and deer. Normally, Bluetongue only occurs in tropical countries, although it has been known in EU countries around the Mediterranean. It is thought the warm weather this summer has allowed the biting midges, which transmit the virus, to survive further north. There have been 40 cases confirmed in sheep and cattle in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany – the first time the disease has been detected so far north. Exports of cattle, sheep and deer from the affected regions have been stopped. Defra is in the process of tracing and blood-testing animals and livestock imported from those regions since July 1. All animals entering the UK are being tested for the disease. The symptoms include fever, swelling of the head and neck, respiratory difficulties, swollen blue tongue and inability to swallow. Bluetongue is highly infectious among sheep. Cattle act as carriers and do not normally display any symptoms. It is thought that a new strain of the disease may be circulating in northern Europe as cattle have been showing symptoms and the mortality rate among sheep has been relatively low. Defra has advised that the symptoms can look like Malignant Catarrhal Fever. Although the disease cannot be passed animal to animal, the arrival of infected animals in a new area could spread the disease by infecting a new population of midges. Defra have said that any farmers detecting signs of the disease in their stock must report it immediately. Farmers have also been urged to adopt stringent biosecurity measures. NFU spokesman Ian Johnson said: 'Potentially, it like a lot of these things. It is not here and with some luck, it won't be.'
