Bluetongue cases spread across West Midlands

Cases of bluetongue virus, which can be fatal to some livestock, have spread to new parts of the West Midlands, according to the latest figures.

The number of confirmed cases rose to 38 with Staffordshire showing the biggest increase, as four new cases took the total number of affected sites in the county to 24.

There are also nine cases in Shropshire, two in Herefordshire and one each in Worcestershire, Warwickshire and Solihull.

Graham Price, who runs a beef and sheep farm near Ludlow, Shropshire, described the influx of cases as "on a par with foot and mouth".

The 2001 outbreak of foot and mouth devastated the country's farming industry.

Price began vaccinating his animals against the virus and urged fellow farmers to do the same.

"I think the challenges are going to continue," he said, adding that "over the last two years, the midge activity has not stopped until January of the new year".

His message to other farmers and livestock owners is to "have that conversation with your vets about vaccination.

"Please don't put it off."

The figures, from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), cover cases between 10 July and 31 August.

NFU Midlands said the pressure on farmers who were facing an outbreak in their flocks and herds was "immense".

"There is one key message coming out of these meetings that those affected want other farmers to know – they are encouraging them to vaccinate their animals so they do not end up in the same heartbreaking place as them," a spokesperson said.

Nationally, there have been 783 confirmed cases of bluetongue serotype three (BTV-3) during the current outbreak season.

There are currently 2,518 potential cases under investigation across the country.

The disease is primarily spread by biting midges and affects cattle, sheep and other grazing animals.

Bluetongue can cause serious illness in the animals, including fever, lethargy, swelling, breathing difficulties and, in some cases, abortions or the death of young animals.

The latest figures show 1,278 sheep, 313 cattle, five alpacas and one llama have tested positive so far since the outbreak began in March, although the government said the number of affected animals was likely to be significantly higher because not every animal on an infected premises was tested.

All of England remains within a bluetongue restricted zone, with rules governing the movement of livestock.

Livestock owners were advised to stay vigilant for signs of the disease and report suspected cases.

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