Bluetongue

Bluetongue is a disease of animals affecting all ruminants, including sheep, cattle, deer, goats and camelids (camels, llamas, alpacas, guanaco and vicuña). It does not affect horses or pigs. Although sheep are most severely affected, cattle are the main mammalian reservoir of the virus and are very important in the epidemiology of the disease. It is characterized by changes to the mucous linings of the mouth and nose and the coronary band of the foot.

• 'Don't hesitate, vaccinate' link to Defra
• Bluetongue.co.uk
  
• A series of public meetings have been organised with the aim of informing producers of the current knowledge on Bluetongue and highlighting the need to vaccinate.

Bluetongue vaccine uptake from Farmers Weekly, June 19th 2009

Bluetongue free events 2009:

• Tuesday February 17th at Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, Gloucestershire.

• Wednesday 18th February at Sedgemoor Auction Centre, North Petherton, Somerset.

• Tuesday 24th February at Kingston Maurwood, Dorchester, Dorset.

• Wednesday 25th February at Best Western Hotel, Tiverton, Devon.

• Tuesday 17th March at Duchy College, Stoke Climsland, Callington, Cornwall.

All events will be addressed by experts from The Institute for Animal Health plus industry representatives.

For more information please go to www.bluetonguesouthwest.co.uk