Current NSA updates on bluetongue
13th September 2024
13th September 2024 - Update on TCZs and RZs
With temperatures falling sharply this week, with ground frosts in many areas its possibly the best news we could hope for in relation to BTV3 and midge activity. However cases continue to rise slowly, something we should expect given the up to 14 day incubation period between infection and symptoms showing, and in addition temperatures are forecast to rise later in the weekend and into next week. So the early cold weather will help but we should expect the expansion of this virus to continue. By the end of this week we have seen the number of premises with confirmed cases rise to 46. Most of this increase has been seen within the RZ of Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex but we have also seen extensions to the TCZ in east Yorkshire, now reaching down into parts of Lincolnshire, and a new positive case was confirmed yesterday (12th Sept) near Faversham in Kent. This latest development has seen the establishment of a new 20km TCZ around this premises which stops just short of Ashford market but will disrupt things next week for those farming within the TCZ. Full and up to date details of the RZs and TCZs can be found here.
There has been progress with the BTV3 vaccine and NSA has met with manufacturers/agents for all 3 vaccines during the week. The emergency use of these vaccines was sanctioned by the CVO last week and Defra expect to have licences for its use available during next week. There will be two licences, a general licence that needs to be complied with but not granted within the high risk counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Kent and West Sussex, and a specific licence that will need to be applied for and granted for areas in England outside the RZs. These vaccines are not being allowed by Welsh Govt or Scottish Govt at this stage. All available details on movement controls can be found here and on vaccines here. NSA encourages members to keep an eye on our web site and Gov.Uk.
5th September 2024 - New TCZ has been established in East Yorkshire
A single case has now been confirmed positive in East Yorkshire, right on the coast. This is most likely related to midges blown over from the continent and not part of any recirculation here in Britain. In this case, because it's outside the existing RZ the affected animal is being humanely dispatched and a 20km TCZ being established around the premises. The approach at this early stage is to treat this as a separate case and try to eliminate it from this area while further surveillance takes place. Keepers within this new 20km TCZ should use THIS Link to inform on specific movement restrictions and rules - these may well differ from those in the existing RZ in these early stages.
4th September 2024 - NSA welcomes Defra approval for use of bluetongue vaccine
The National Sheep Association (NSA) has welcomed the approval by Defra Secretary of State, Steve Reed, for the use of unauthorised BTV3 vaccines for bluetongue virus (BTV-3) within the UK, subject to licence.
The approval was announced yesterday (Wednesday 4th September) following concerning outbreaks of the BTV-3 virus in several areas of Eastern England.
Licences are expected to be made available over the coming days to allow the distribution of vaccines in the coming weeks, although they are likely to be geographically targeted towards the high risk counties only in the first instance.
NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker says: “This is a welcome and very necessary step to help control BTV-3 in the UK. Although the vaccines are suppressive in nature rather than preventative they are expected to dampen symptoms, reduce suffering and mortality, and hopefully reduce the risk of further transmission. But as they will not prevent infection entirely, animals within control areas will still be subject to movement controls and trade restrictions.”
NSA reiterates the fact that the vaccines will be only available through veterinary prescription, so initial interest should be via your private vet
Bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) vaccine permits - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
2nd September 2024 - Bluetongue emergency update from Phil Stocker, NSA Chief Executive
Any newly emerging livestock disease situation inevitably creates confusion among farmers and others over what can and can’t be done and the emergence of bluetongue virus - BTV3 - in the English Eastern counties is no different. Explaining official controls when things change rapidly is difficult enough, but there is also then the matter of interpreting these into not just ‘what can I do’, but ‘what should I do’ in relation to business decisions. All communication from NSA on BTV3 will give links and updates informing keepers of the most up to date official information, and you can be assured NSA is involved in all Defra and Government forums to help decision making but also to assist in communicating this information back to farmers.
For ease of use, over and above our own website, these are the two links we would guide members to.
- The official Government site Bluetongue: news, information and guidance for livestock keepers - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
- The Ruminant Health and Welfare Group (RHWG) site Bluetongue Virus - Ruminant Health & Welfare (ruminanthw.org.uk).
Please be aware that things are changing quickly. NSA is trying to keep everyone ‘in the know’ but things can change quickly, so please do make the effort to check the information is still up to date.
But even these will leave some farmers asking questions and the purpose of the following text aims to convert some of the controls into what I can and can not, and should and should not do on farm. Of course, final decisions will always be down to the individual farmer.
So, the virus is here and we now (as of 31st August) have 34 confirmed cases over 10 different premises with results from other suspect cases still pending. There is evidence that the virus is locally circulating here, by midge transmission, and not just being blown over by midges from the continent – so circulating in our own midge population. The earlier and smaller temporary control zones (TCZs) have been revoked, and now all of Norfolk. Suffolk, and Essex have been placed into a larger Restricted Zone (RZ) with the RZ expanding locally to encompass entire holdings. The aim of this is to recognise the virus is spreading and there is a desire to try to get ahead of the disease rather than chase it. The larger RZ also enables more business as usual to take place in the affected area – although it’s important to say that business as usual should not be the aim and the control of this disease will in part be down to individual farmers decisions to be as responsible as possible over moves and avoid moving animals unless it’s absolutely necessary.
Surveillance is very different to the way it was being conducted last winter where whole flocks of sheep were being blood tested. Now with the exception of tests done on suspected cases most surveillance in sheep is being done visually, looking for clinical signs which if found will lead to testing. In cattle, due to less evidence of clinical signs, sentinel numbers of animals are being tested within a programme of targeted surveillance.
Moves within the RZ, to slaughter and to live can be made without any additional licences to your normal movement licences. Stock can also be brought into the RZ from outside the zone without a licence. Moves from within the RZ to a designated abattoir outside the zone can be made using a general licence that can be downloaded with the requirements being fully adhered to. What cannot take place under a general licence is the movement of any stock from within the RZ to a premises outside of this zone to live – this needs a specific licence that will require approval prior to the move. This special licence needs to be applied for, through Animal & Plant and Health Agency (APHA) and it is currently asking for five days’ notice for these licences to be processed, so please plan ahead where possible. Animals moved to live in this way will require pre and post movement blood testing, more information of which can be found here. Livestock markets are operating in the same way within the same controls, so no moves out of the RZ to a mart outside the zone either for slaughter, breeding or store sales unless they go through a specific licence and are pre movement blood tested (and this is unlikely to be granted).
The situation will be causing concern for many farmers, creating uncertainty over whether new and expensive breeding stock should be brought into an area at risk, and similarly with store lambs, when compensation for any animals that die, or are put down on welfare grounds is highly unlikely. Compensation has been paid to date on animals humanely culled under order by APHA but as the disease has developed, automatic culling on positive cases is no longer taking place. In terms of sales off stock off farm many farmers will be affected and more will become affected as time progresses. Selling slaughter stock should be able to go ahead but only direct to abattoirs and to a designated plant, while the selling of breeding and store stock can only practically take place if the entire move is within the RZ. Any exceptions will require the specific licence and pre movement testing so only likely for small numbers of high value stock. We are hearing of a number of visits following suspicion of disease, where the record keeping regarding movements is ‘appalling’. This make any hope of traceability virtually impossible and undermines all industry efforts to be able to present good data in a responsible way. We would strongly advise keepers to ensure movement records are up to date and accurate, focussing on the period since end of July 2024, and would further encourage everyone to make use of the digital service provided by LI Ltd Livestock Information Ltd
In summary:
- Animals can move into the RZ and within the RZ without additional licence.
- Animals can move to a designated slaughterhouse outside of the zone using the new general licence EXD 603(E) (GL). Download licence, no application.
- Animals cannot move out of the RZ to live without a specific licence (applied for via APHA website) and a negative pre movement test. They will also need to be restricted at destination and have a post-movement test.
- Markets within the RZ can operate if moves from the mart go to destinations within the RZ or to designated abattoirs outside the zone providing all conditions can be met.
Finally just to reiterate the need for care and responsibility over moves within the RZ. While animals are free to move within the RZ without a licence this brings a risk of viraemic animals being moved close to the edge of the RZ thereby risking onward transmission. Keepers should only move animals within the restricted zone where it is absolutely necessary to do so.
27th August 2024 - NSA warns members to remain vigilant with the first confirmed case of BTV3 in England
NSA members should be aware there is now an active case of BTV3 in England – the first identified case this summer after some 8 months since the cases that were identified last winter.
NSA endeavour to keep members informed as things develop but as of today there is one case confirmed and 3 animals whose test results are pending. These cases/ potential cases are in Norfolk with one on the Suffolk border. All animals have shown clinical symptoms of lameness, lesions in and around the mouth, and a loss of appetite. At this early-stage animals confirmed positive will be humanely dispatched to reduce risks of onward transmission by biting midges. Cattle and sheep keepers are strongly encouraged to be vigilant and report any suspicions to their vet, be proactively on the lookout for signs of the disease, and to be co-operative if contacted by Defra/ APHA for testing. It is estimated that the disease would have arrived here by midges somewhere between the 11th and 14th August when weather conditions were particularly suitable. Currently a 20km Temporary Control Zone has been established around the confirmed case with all movements in and out of the zone only allowed under licence, including moves to slaughter. As far as is known there are no abattoirs and no livestock markets within the TCZ.
The current licence guidance on licensing is here Bluetongue movement licences and designated slaughterhouses - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Below are links to advice hubs and technical webinars on BTV3
Bluetongue Virus - Ruminant Health & Welfare (ruminanthw.org.uk)
