Bluetongue moving closer

The bluetongue virus spread closer to Shropshire today after a the midge-borne virus was detected in 20 imported cows in Worcestershire.

The farm, near Worcester, has been placed under restrictions and the cows are to be culled, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs revealed. The virus was detected through routine testing of the cows, which were from a protection zone in the Netherlands.

Defra said no extra exclusions were being put in place because there was no evidence that the virus was circulating in the area.

The NFU said it was treating the case as an isolated incident on the farm and was not an "outbreak".

Andrew Richards, senior policy advisor with the NFU in Telford, said: "By culling the animals, if all goes to plan it should eradicate the disease."

He said because of the cold weather, midges which spread the disease were not active.

"If it had been warmer weather, like we are expecting in the spring, this could have been a complete disaster," Mr Richards added.

"If the disease got a foothold on the west of the country it could decimate the livestock sector."

He said the case showed failings in control measures on stock being brought in from northern Europe, because the disease should have been detected before the animals were exported or on their arrival into the UK.

The farm is within the current bluetongue surveillance zone.

The zone was extended into most of Shropshire in October.

Farmers dealing with raft of restrictions:

Shropshire farmers have had to put up with a raft of restrictions as a result of this summer's disease outbreaks. Here's what's in place.

Bluetongue: The protection zone still covers the whole of the West Midlands, excluding a small piece of Shropshire in the Oswestry area.

The disease is caused by a virus spread by midges and affects ruminants but not pigs, horses or humans. Markets within the bluetongue surveillance and protection zones are allowed and may operate as usual provided the animals stay within the zones after sale unless they are going to slaughter at approved slaughterhouses.

Defra has said that as of December 14 there were 66 confirmed premises affected by blue tongue in the East Anglia region.

Foot and mouth: The European Commission has now adopted a decision that lifts the remaining foot and mouth disease control measures in Great Britain meaning a return to normal EU movements and trading for both live animals and meat products.

The announcement frees movements in all parts of the UK apart from the Protection Zone in Surrey.

Movement restrictions in this area will cease on December 31, as the EU ruling will fall at the end of the year.

Avian flu: On December 19 both the surveillance zone and the restricted zone were lifted.

Bird gatherings will continue to be banned within the zones and birds cannot be taken out of those zones to bird gatherings in the rest of the country.

However, it is vital that all bird keepers in the UK, and especially those in existing disease restriction zones, continue to maintain good biosecurity and be vigilant for any signs of disease.

By Rural Affairs Correspondent Nathan Rous