The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) has this month reminded farmers in Northern Ireland to remain vigilant for the signs of Bluetongue disease. They have produced a leaflet which is in the process of being posted to all cattle and sheep owners. The leaflet, which outlines the signs and symptoms to look for, is accompanied by a letter from DARD's Chief Vet. Guidance is also available on DARD's website.
There has been confirmation of further cases in England of the Bluetongue disease, which is an insect-borne virus that threatens to kill up to half of the sheep and approximately 1% of cattle it infects. The virus has many strains, but the one that has recently infected English livestock is Bluetongue-8, for which there is no known cure or vaccine. While the risk in Northern Ireland at present remains low, farmers still have an important role to play in keeping the virus out.
Livestock should be inspected daily at the very least for signs of disease, and any suspicions must be reported to a local Divisional Veterinary Office. DARD is also issuing advice to anyone considering importing stock from countries where Bluetongue is present. Importers are being asked to seriously consider this advice, given their responsibility to help protect farms in Northern Ireland. Bluetongue can have significant economic impacts in terms of farm losses due to death, sickness and reduced productivity. There are also losses to export revenue as live exports are banned from affected areas.
DARD continues to liaise closely with the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), other devolved administrations and with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in Dublin, to monitor the Bluetongue situation and mitigate the thread of incursion.
