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Foot and Mouth Disease
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18 July - Bluetongue update
From Monday 21 July the Bluetongue Protection Zone will extend again to cover Worcestershire and the districts in North Yorkshire (Scarborough, Ryedale, Hambleton & Harrogate), Cheshire (Macclesfield, Congleton & Crewe and Nantwich) and Greater Manchester (Rochdale, Oldham, Tameside and Stockport) previously in the Surveillance Zone.
As at 13:00 on 27 June 2008 there were 136 confirmed premises affected by Bluetongue. The most recent cases were found as a result of pre-movement testing during the vector-free period. This figure will normally be updated weekly on the Defra website on a Friday where necessary.
The message is very clear "Don't hesitate, vaccinate".
- 14 July
From Monday 14 July the Bluetongue Protection Zone has been extended again to cover all of the District of Selby, the Unitary Authority of York, West Yorkshire (made up of the metropolitan boroughs of Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield), Derbyshire (including Derby), Staffordshire (including Stoke-on-Trent) and West Midlands (made up of the metropolitan boroughs of Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull and Walsall).
The Protection Zone has been extended to cover likely new areas of infection and assure that animals are vaccinated in these areas to prevent further spread of the disease.
An additional 2.2 million doses of Bluetongue vaccine have been made available.'
- 7 July
Further extension of Bluetongue Protection Zone
The existing Protection Zone which already covers all of southern England will be extended on Monday 7th July to cover Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, East Riding of Yorkshire and South Yorkshire.
- 6 May
Bluetongue update
The new Bluetongue vaccine is now available and starting to be used.
It will be used in the areas directly affected in the Eastern and South East region. Batches of the vaccine have already arrived in some vetinerary practices in the region.
SEEDA has been supporting the National Farmers Union campaign for
vaccination. We would all like to see all relevant animals in the region vaccinated. The take up will be vital if the disease is not to spread.
Up to date new information can be found on the National Farmers Union website: www.nfuonline.com and follow the references to 'bluetongue' and 'vaccination'
- 22 February
Latest FMD Information Bulletin regarding the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE) Scientific Commission which has officially declared that the UK has regained freedom from FMD without vaccination, following a three month disease-free period.
www.defra.gov.uk/news/2008/080222b.htm
- 14 February
Update on Bluetongue Disease
February 2008 saw the declaration of a Protection Zone and a Surveillance Zone for Bluetongue, and amended licences for moving animals.
A large proportion of the region lies within the Protection Zone.
Please refer to the Defra website for details and Interactive Map.
- Rural Issues Group Update (January 2008): Avian Influenza update
- 18 December 2007
Good news that from 14 December there are no longer any farm movement restrictions due to Foot and Mouth Disease.
However Bluetongue restrictions remain in place.
- 10 December 2007
Foot and Mouth
The original Protection and Surveillance Zones have now been lifted but since 5 December Great Britain has been divided into 2 export zones:
- a Restricted Export Zone which covers Surrey Districts and Wokingham, Bracknell Forest, Windsor and Maidenhead, Slough, South Bucks and Hart Districts and some London Boroughs
- A Free Export Area that covers the rest of the region and the rest of the country
Please see the Defra website for movement details: http://www.defra.gov.uk/footandmouth
The Defra website makes it very clear that there is no need to stop visiting the countryside. The only restrictions now are limited to the infected premises.
Surrey County Council is also offering advice through a helpline available from Monday to Friday from 8.30am until 4pm on 01372 371692
Bluetongue
The whole of the South East region still lies within the Bluetongue Surveillance Zone and parts of the region within the Bluetongue Protection Zone.
Markets have been able to operate within the zones since Sunday 14
October. However only animals going to slaughter at approved
slaughterhouses may leave the zones and all other animals must stay within the zones
Defra and the National farmers Union have been working on actions to combat Bluetongue disease and a policy statement and supporting rationale and economic assessment can be found on the website: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/bluetongue/latest/index.htm
- The latest news from Defra on Avian Flu and FMD 6/12/07
- Foot & Mouth Disease Commission Decision
It seems likely that the Commission Decision agreed on 20 November will be adopted on Wednesday 5th December 2007. Whilst adoption may take place in the morning, there is often a delay before we are formally informed by the European Commission. Livestock keepers should therefore not plan to make any movements according to the new rules on Wednesday in case there are delays in adoption and subsequent transposition into English Law.
On Monday, a further Decision was agreed that will allow live exports from much of Great Britain to take place later this month. Please find attached a map that describes the remaining area that remains under restrictions, and a copy of the Decision that was voted on today.
The Districts and Boroughs within this area will not be able to send FMD susceptible livestock direct for export. However, livestock may be moved out of this area to the rest of GB, provided they are not exported until 30 days have elapsed. The certification requirement for exporting meat and meat products will be lifted across all GB.
Clearly, this is another positive step in our FMD exit strategy. In order for the livestock industry to benefit from this development, we are pressing the Commission to adopt the decision with minimal delay. I will keep you informed of developments.
- Foot & Mouth: Regional Partners Agree Action Plan
- Avian Flu update
- Rural Issues Group Update (4): Avian Influenza update: bird gatherings permitted outside restricted zone
- SEEDA Offers £150,000 to Farmers Affected by Foot and Mouth
- SEEDA’s Support for Farmers
- Regional Partners Agree Action Plan
- Tender for Bluetongue vaccine
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