草榴社区

Nearly 20 counties now placed in a bluetongue restriction zone

Nine cases of the virus have been detected outside the zone in Cheshire, Shropshire, Somerset, Cumbria, Anglesey, Gwynedd, Cornwall and North Yorkshire

Chris Brayford
clock 鈥� 1 min read
APHA said more than 140 cases of bluetongue have been detected on farms in England and Wales since August 26.
Image:

APHA said more than 140 cases of bluetongue have been detected on farms in England and Wales since August 26.

Bluetongue has continued to be detected in the UK with more than 25 counties returning a positive case.

As of October 11, APHA said there have been 143 confirmed reports of the virus on farms in England and Wales since August 26 in cattle and sheep.

The Government has placed 18 counties into a restricted zone which covers Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, East Yorkshire, Essex, Greater London, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Suffolk, Surrey and Sussex.

READ NOW: Second case of bluetongue identified in Wales

Somerset, Shropshire, Cheshire, Cumbria, Anglesey, Gwynedd, and North Yorkshire and Cornwall have also returned positive cases of the virus spread by midges.

Latest information published by the Government revealed that听3 cases of bluetongue had been identified on Thursday (October 10) in Norfolk, Hertfordshire and North Yorkshire.听

APHA said all the animals have been humanely culled to prevent 'potential spread' of the virus.

READ NOW: Defra Secretary visits farmers in restricted bluetongue zone

Related Topics

More on Animal Health

More bluetongue-related abortions and birth defects reported on farms
Animal Health

More bluetongue-related abortions and birth defects reported on farms

Vets have raised concern that current bluetongue testing arrangements may inadvertently weaken disease surveillance

Chris Brayford
Chris Brayford
clock 27 March 2026 鈥� 3 min read
Letters: "It is not well known that the British Government was no longer in charge of policy on foot-and-mouth in 2001"
Animal Health

Letters: "It is not well known that the British Government was no longer in charge of policy on foot-and-mouth in 2001"

This week from 草榴社区 Guardian readers: Duncan Pickard, Balmullo, Scotland, discusses the risks of illegal meat imports and the lessons from past foot-and-mouth outbreaks, questioning whether the UK is now better prepared to respond

Duncan Pickard
clock 24 March 2026 鈥� 1 min read
2001 UK foot-and-mouth outbreak - 25 years on: "Strong border controls remain vital"
Animal Health

2001 UK foot-and-mouth outbreak - 25 years on: "Strong border controls remain vital"

25 years on from the foot-and-mouth crisis in the UK, Ashford Port Health Authority said border security controls play a critical role in maintaining national biosecurity, protecting farmers' livelihoods and supporting the long-term resilience of the agricultural sector

Chris Brayford
Chris Brayford
clock 19 March 2026 鈥� 3 min read
Related Content