Yorkshire MP's alarm at blue tongue disease affecting livestock

A Yorkshire MP has expressed alarm at an escalating outbreak of a midge-borne disease affecting sheep and cattle, which is spreading rapidly through the West Country.

Earlier this week UK chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss said 134 bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) infected premises had been confirmed across England, Scotland and Wales, since July 1.

Sheep accounted for most cases, the vast majority of which are in farms in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset. Just one has been reported in East Yorkshire.

Bluetongue virus is primarily transmitted by biting midges and also affects cattle, as well as goats, deer and llamas. It does not affect people or food safety.

Bluetongue is an animal disease that affects livestock including cattle and sheep, as well as goats, deer and llamas, with symptoms including a blue and swollen tongue, fever, reduced milk yield and in the most severe cases, death.

Ms Middlemiss urged farmers to vaccinate their stock ahead of the breeding season to reduce fertility risks associated with the disease.

Keighley and Ilkley MP Robbie accused the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs of appearing to be “asleep at the wheel”. He said it needed to “mobilise with all its might” to prevent farmers suffering further financial loss and strain.

The MP complained that “communications are slow, capacity within the testing regime is wholly inadequate and the reporting system is overwhelmed and a bureaucratic nightmare.”

Responding to the MP’s Facebook post, an Exmoor farmer said they were unable to get the vaccine or antiobiotics as their vets couldn’t source supplies.

National Sheep Association chief executive Phil Stocker said they’d been assured vaccine manufacturers are doing what they can to ensure demand can be met.