Millions of farm animals are at risk of deadly diseases carried to Britain from Europe by midges

• Bluetongue disease is caused by a virus spread by flying insects called midges
• It can kill sheep and cattle but the virus does not pose a threat to human health

Government experts have issued an urgent warning about a deadly disease that could kill millions of farm animals in Britain.

Bluetongue disease – caused by a virus spread by flying insects called midges – mostly affects sheep and cattle, but also goats, deer and even camel.

Infected animals can get swelling of the tongue (‘bluetongue’) which can cause breathing difficulties, but other symptoms include lesions and nasal discharge.

Bluetongue disease was first reported in the UK in 2007, but now the government says there’s a ‘very high probability’ of a new strain of the virus called BTV-3 spreading across Britain.

Already there have been confirmed cases of BTV-3 in sheep and cattle in Kent, Norfolk and Suffolk.

Bluetongue does not pose a threat to human health or food safety.

Instead, the danger is the threat to livestock that could be slaughtered in places where infection is confirmed.

In a statement, the government said the new strain will likely infect more British farm animals due to infected biting midges being blown over from northern Europe.

These biting midges are most active between April and November, but a potential ‘incursion’ of the flying insects will depend on temperature and wind patterns.

Because the midges thrive in warmer temperatures, the risk of virus transmission is expected to increase in hotter weather.

Counties along the south and east coasts of England, including Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Kent, and Sussex, are considered most likely to be impacted.

‘Our robust surveillance systems show we have now entered the period where biting midges are more active,’ said Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Christine Middlemiss.

‘We know that the likelihood of bluetongue virus entering Great Britain is increasing.

‘Despite the increase in midge activity, the current risk of transmission has not changed, but I would urge farmers to remain vigilant and report any suspicions to the Animal Plant Health Agency.’

Aside from a swollen tongue, symptoms in cattle and sheep include eye and nasal discharge, lesions and redness, drooling as a result of ulcers in the mouth, swelling of the head and neck, and lameness.

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The severity of the disease varies among different species, but symptoms tend to be the most severe in sheep, resulting in death, weight loss and disruption in wool growth.

Cattle (cows and bulls) often have a higher infection rate than sheep and affected cows can suffer from lower milk yield even if they survive.

Government says there have been 126 confirmed bluetongue cases in England – 119 in cattle and seven in sheep.

There are no authorized vaccines available for BTV-3 in the UK or Europe.

However, the government is ‘actively engaging’ with vaccine manufacturers on the development of a BTV-3 vaccine for use in the UK.

According to the government, the overall risk of importing livestock infected with the bluetongue virus into Britain is considered to be ‘very low’.

However, rules on the movement of livestock from regions affected by bluetongue are already in place

‘We must not be complacent to the bluetongue virus risk and the challenge this could pose to our livestock sector,’ said Biosecurity Minister Lord Douglas Miller.

‘We want to ensure our control strategy is proportionate, and we will continue to work with industry to keep them briefed on the latest disease and veterinary assessments.

‘Once the risk of transmission increases, we will also be offering free bluetongue tests to keepers in high-risk counties and we are actively engaging with vaccine manufacturers on the development of a BTV-3 vaccine for use in the UK.’

The public can read more about bluetongue disease on the government’s website.