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Andrew Muir, the agriculture minister in Northern Ireland, has warned that the spread of the bluetongue virus (BTV-3) could have “very serious” repercussions for the region’s agricultural community. Although the virus is transmitted by midges and does not pose any risk to human health or food safety, it affects cloven-hoofed animals such as sheep and cattle. The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) recently detected the virus in two cows at an abattoir near Bangor, County Down, prompting immediate action.
In response to these findings, a 20km Temporary Control Zone (TCZ) was established at 9 pm BST on Saturday. Minister Muir emphasized the need for “vigilance around this,” urging farmers to promptly report any signs of infection and isolate affected animals. Highlighting the priority in managing this situation, he stated, “The most important thing going forward here is we focus on the eradication of this.” He acknowledged the anxiety within the farming community due to the potential consequences for the agri-food sector.
During an interview on Good Morning Ulster, Muir encouraged farmers to vaccinate their livestock, though he respected that the decision was ultimately a personal one. “If it was me, as a farmer, I would be taking that up, but it’s for others to make their own decisions on individual circumstances around this,” he explained. The uptake of the vaccine has so far been limited, mainly among farmers who have high-value animals, according to Muir.
Movements of susceptible animals within the TCZ have been halted as further investigations continue, with a general licence allowing movement only if the animals are being taken directly to slaughter. William Irvine from the Ulster Farmers’ Union expressed concern about the recent development, stating, “We were hopeful that we had escaped it for the season, but just on the last lap it has appeared and all precautions now need to be taken.” He also noted that the vaccine’s limited use to date “is a game changer now.”
Bluetongue virus affects a variety of animals including cattle, goats, sheep, deer, and camelids such as llamas and alpacas. Symptoms can include ulcers around the mouth and face, breathing and swallowing difficulties, fever, lameness, as well as foetal deformities and stillbirths. The current outbreak was first identified in the Netherlands in 2023, where tens of thousands of sheep died. Midges carried the infection to the south-east of England, although the severity of symptoms can vary widely, with some animals showing few signs and recovering without serious effects
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