Bluetongue dominates vets' workload as cases rise
BBCBluetongue is "out of control" after a "massive spike in cases" in recent weeks, a vet dealing with the virus has said.
Latest government figures show there are 55 farms with bluetongue in Cornwall and 153 in Devon, with 265 farms across England reporting the disease. On Friday, cases were reported from 41 farms in Cornwall and 120 in Devon.
Matilda Herridge-Nowell, from Penbode Farm Vets, in north Devon, said pretty much "all we are doing as a team of vets at the moment is taking bluetongue calls, going on bluetongue visits to sample".
Defra has urged farmers to be vigilant during this "incredibly difficult time for animal keepers" and said it was "monitoring the situation closely".
'Mother Nature has steering wheel'
Herridge-Nowell said the majority of her clients "have it or think they have it" and "it's out of control at the moment".
Bluetongue is spread by midges and can make animals including sheep and cattle lethargic and lame along with causing birth defects or spontaneous abortions.
It can also be fatal to animals, but does not affect human or food safety.
Maria Warne Elston, who farms with her family in Cornwall, said some of her cows have already contracted the virus.
She said it was "heartbreaking" to realise they were in "an incredibly vulnerable situation" where "only Mother Nature has the steering wheel".
"It is really terrifying knowing that you could go out and you could have 20 more sick animals," she told BBC Radio Cornwall.
"The fear of the midges biting the sheep and getting into the sheep is even more terrifying because they've got a higher fatality rate [than other livestock] and it's really hard to support a sheep through it."
'Remain vigilant'
A spokesperson for the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) said the recent period of hot weather had "been favourable for midge populations which has likely contributed to increased numbers of cases, in cattle and particularly sheep".
"Livestock keepers should remain vigilant and report any suspicions of disease to APHA.
"We encourage all farmers and keepers to discuss vaccination with their vet as this is the most effective way of protecting their animals."
Defra said vaccinations were the "most effective method of control, and we urge animal keepers to discuss this with their vet.
"We continue to work closely with industry representatives to ensure that keepers are kept up to date with developments and that issues and concerns are addressed promptly."
