In Great Britain, the first case of bluetongue has been detected in a cow in the county of Kent, in the southeast of England. The Department of Agriculture Defra said following the contamination in the non-imported animal that some countries could restrict meat exports of British bluetongue-sensitive cattle.
A farm animal disease research institute in Surrey identified the disease in cows through an annual bluetongue surveillance programme. The cow was culled to reduce the risk of further disease transmission. A 10-kilometre control zone has been established around the affected farm.
There has been an increase in the number of bluetongue cases in Europe recently. Various strains of the animal disease are circulating, with thousands of outbreaks now confirmed.
The Netherlands reported its first outbreak since 2009 in September, followed by Belgian authorities in October. In September, French authorities confirmed the presence of a new strain of the disease, BTV-8, which causes more severe clinical signs in cattle and sheep.
Bluetongue has no effect on humans or food safety. The virus is transmitted by mosquito bites and affects cows, goats and sheep, among others. The mosquitoes are most active between April and November. Not all susceptible animals show immediate or any signs of infection with the virus.
The consequences for sensitive animals can vary considerably. Some show no symptoms or effects at all. In the most severe cases, the disease can be fatal to infected animals.