Animal health - disease outbreaks latest news

Avian Influenza

Update 10.7.08

The Surveillance Zone and remaining disease control area restrictions put in place following the outbreak of H7N7 avian influenza in Oxfordshire were lifted on Tuesday 8 July.

Surveillance has shown that infection appears to have been contained to the single premises.

Intra-Community Trade: With the exception of a small quantity of poultry meat produced from birds originating within the Protection Zone (PZ) that can only be placed on the domestic market, normal intra-Community trade rules will apply to the whole of the UK following the lifting of the zone restrictions 

 

Bluetongue Disease

Update 10.07.08

The protection zone is being gradually extended as supplies of vaccine become available. For more information on the precise boundaries of the zones please see the defra website.  

Visit the Bluetongue vaccination FAQ page for more information on vaccination..

The licence conditions for all animal movements can be found on the defra website.

 

Bluetongue Vaccination Plan

DEFRA has published plans for a vaccination strategy to help control the spread of bluetongue disease.

It outlines how an initial two million doses, will first be distributed to the Protection Zones to counter the immediate threat of disease.

Farmers in those zones in the east and south east of England will be the first to receive it, having to buy it from their vet and administer it themselves.

Defra has said at least 80 per cent of animals will need to be vaccinated in order for the programme to be successful.

The voluntary programme will mean farmers are not compelled to use the vaccine, but are advised to do so to protect their flocks or herds and to restrict the economic impact of disease. Vaccination is expected to cost farmers around 60p per dose, with two doses required for cattle and one for sheep. View the Bluetongue vaccination FAQ page for more information.

More information

An Interactive map showing the zones is available on the Defra website. Movement guidance is available on the Defra website.