Bluetongue Disease: Disease Control
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of exclusion zones in preventing the spread of blue tongue virus.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner
Defra’s approach to bluetongue considers the latest scientific evidence and veterinary advice. Decisions regarding the extent of zones take into account the location of premises where bluetongue has been detected in addition to wider considerations regarding protecting the national herd and flock in the highest density livestock areas to the west and north of England where transmission of bluetongue has not yet been detected. Further details of the evidence that supports these decisions can be found in the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s (APHA) outbreak assessments and assessment of the risk of wind-borne introduction of infected vectors to the UK. The current extent of the restricted zone and the distribution of bluetongue cases detected to date can be viewed on APHA’s interactive map.
Defra and APHA working closely with key industry stakeholders, including the Livestock Auctioneers Association, continue to remain vigilant to any changes in bluetongue risk. To inform our decisions on control measures and the extent of disease control zones and the movements within, to and from these zones which can be licensed we are undertaking surveillance of susceptible animals. This approach aims to ensure disease control measures including the extent of the restricted zone are proportionate to the risk whist minimising the burdens on livestock keepers and allied sectors.
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