Blue tongue concerns for Cumbrian farmers
Thousands of cases have been identified in The Netherlands.
A new strain of blue tongue is sweeping through The Netherlands, and there's concerns it could soon hit the UK.
Bluetongue virus is primarily transmitted by biting midges (Culicoides species) and affects cattle, sheep, and other ruminants such as goats and deer, and camelids such as llamas. The virus does not affect people or food safety.
The UK Government have warned that In an updated risk assessment, APHA confirm there is a very high probability of the introduction of the new strain of bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV-3) into livestock in Great Britain through infected biting midges being blown over from northern Europe.
Biting midges are most active between April and November and the timing of a potential incursion will depend on the temperature and wind patterns.
John Longmire is a Cumbrian sheep farmer, he said: "We've been asking the government to support a new vaccine for this. Unfortunately it won't be available until Autumn 2024 at the earliest.
"There is other vaccines for blue tongue but they are totally ineffective on this new strain.
"It's been an horrendous wet spring through lambing time. There's already been a lot of losses due to the weather, which is a natural phenomenon. The last thing farmers need is an outbreak of blue tongue to decimate the sheep industry.
"If an animal is infected it's off-spring can also be a carrier. It's not just now, it can continue to the future. We can just hope it's not as bad as it is in The Netherlands."