Bluetongue restricted zone extended into new areas
The Isle of Wight is now included in the restricted zone.
Following further cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV-3), the restricted zone has been extended to include the Isle of Wight, part of North Yorkshire, and part of Oxfordshire.
Cases were identified on the border between the East Riding of Yorkshire and North Yorkshire, close to the border between Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, and on the Isle of Wight.
As of 11 November, the total number of BTV-3 cases during the 2024-25 vector period stands at 155 in England and two (linked to moved livestock) in Wales.
The restricted zone now applies to Bedfordshire, part of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, City of Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, East Sussex, Essex, Greater London, part of Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, part of Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, part of North Yorkshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, part of Oxfordshire, Suffolk, Surrey, part of Warwickshire, and West Sussex.
Within the restricted zone, susceptible animals must only be moved if it is absolutely essential. A specific licence is needed to move a susceptible animal from inside the restricted zone to outside of the zone.
Bluetongue is a notifiable disease. Suspected cases must be reported on 03000 200 301 in England or 03003 038 268 in Wales. In Scotland, suspected cases should be reported to the local field services office. Suspected cases in Northern Ireland should be reported to the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or by contacting the local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.
A map of the area where movement restrictions apply can be found here.
Image © Shutterstock
With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.
