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BLUETONGUE in Britain
UK - 149 holdings (BTV8)
        last Defra update 23 June 
Wales and England are now in a single Protection Zone. (See zone map)

First UK report of BTV8 September 22 2007
First UK report of BTV1 November 25 2008
The Farmers Guardian guide to vaccination Spring 2009

July 2 2009 ~ Institute for Animal Health bluetongue and AHS experts will be available to talk with every day at the Royal Show (7-10 July, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire)

July 1 2009 ~ No ban on imports

June 26 2009 ~ "The only thing that will change this is an outbreak or scare. ... We thought we were doing a better job than that."

June 13 2009 ~ "Scottish response to bluetongue disease where compulsory vaccination has been an incredible success story" Nicky Paull

June 11 2009 ~ Simon Hall, (who succeeds Charles Milne), will run Scotland's compulsory bluetongue vaccination campaign

June 5 2009 ~ BVA's Nicky Paull says the veterinary profession was left in the dark about vaccine price cut.

June 2 2009 ~ Nigel Gibbens warns farmers to vaccinate.

May 28 2009 ~ "With that threat now over.. "?

May 22 2009 ~ Rumours continue that vaccinates' fertility is affected. Why have these not been adequately scotched?

May 21 2009 ~ Scotland. Nigel Miller says, "The vaccination programme has gone incredibly well"

May 19 2009 ~ What does Bluetongue vaccination cost in France?

May 19 2009 ~ Dr Watkins thanks all those who sent contact details for Countryfile.

May 19 2009 ~ 15% only across England and Wales

May 18 2009 ~ "There is no facility to email Countryfile with my views on their unbalanced reporting..."

May 15 2009 ~ Scottish buyers don't want unvaccinated store cattle from England

May 15 2009 ~ France: The 2 confirmed cases which slipped through the 80% vaccination campaign in Maine-et-Loire

May 14/15 2009 ~ Two more cases in France

May 13 2009 ~15oC - a key temperature which is recognised to raise midge activity and enable the bluetongue virus to replicate.

May 11 2009 ~ "a number of scanning and targeted surveillance measures in place..."

May 11 2009 ~ Dai Davies warns the Welsh

May 7 2009 ~ Bluetongue vaccine prices to be cut

May 3 2009 ~ ProMed's comment on the BTV1 outbreak in France

May 1 2009 ~ Yesterday was the deadline for all Scottish farmers to have their livestock protected against the virus. Cumbrians now urged to vaccinate

April 30 2009 ~ Bluetongue returns to France - in an alpaca

April 24 2009 ~ DEFRA's "tough new import testing regime" planned - after criticism about wasted vaccine

April 23 2009 ~ Jane Kennedy: No orders have been placed for supplies of BTV-1 vaccine

April 23 2009 ~ French Minister praises the biggest vaccination campaign ever undertaken in France

April 22/23 2009 ~"reaching the key temperature of 15C has made the need to protect livestock against the disease critical..."

April 22/23 2009 ~Fort Dodge Zulvac 8 Ovis® Bluetongue sheep vaccine is now licensed and available in the UK from vets.

April 20 2009 ~ BTV origin in Europe: " no single convincing hypothesis has been proposed"

April 16 2009 ~ Beware maternal transmission non-vaccinating farmers are warned

April 14 2009 ~ Jersey now vaccinating against serotype 1

April 13 2009 ~ Dutch admit mistake with stranded heifers

April 9 2009 ~ Benefit of bluetongue vaccine remains unchallenged - says a summary prepared by the French National Agency for veterinary medicinal products (ANMV-AFSSA)

April 9 2009 ~ The importation of cattle from the Netherlands to the Republic of Ireland has left two Dutch animals stranded at Stranraer.

April 6 2009 ~ Welsh Assembly says it may sell off unused vaccine to other EU countries

April 6 2009 ~The first combined vaccine against both strain BTV8 and BTV1 has been developed for Europe by Fort Dodge

April 1 2009 ~ Fort Dodge vet, David Bartram, says, non-immune calves "must not be vaccinated before the immune system is able to effect a durable response to the vaccine"

April 1 2009 ~ Professor Peter Mertens warns that virus can travel like "aerial plankton"

March 31 2009 ~ " losing a cow would cost more than vaccination"

March 30 2009 ~ "The vaccination against bluetongue disease is not responsible for the blood sweaters, says expert Distl"

March 30 2009 ~ Blood sweaters: "there may also be something new to science.... Antibodies derived from BVD (Bovine Virus Diarrhea) vaccine and bluetongue antibodies present in colostrum may fix together in individual cells in calves of certain genetic make ups....

March 29 2009 ~ "waiting in the hope that a dual strain vaccine is around the corner will leave you susceptible this summer to infection. " Nicky Paull

March 28 2009 ~ Information received about Merial's BTVPUR AlSap 8 vaccine and young stock

March 27 2009 ~ what percentage of livestock farmers in each region have vaccinated their livestock against bluetongue disease

March 26 2009 ~ Merial ready to respond to readers' questions about timing for the vaccination of young lambs and calves. Fort Dodge too is "on the case"

March 25 2009 ~ "The entire country's livestock industry is at stake if we fail to protect our flocks and herds"

March 23 2009 ~ Questions and queries - Bluetongue Conference March 30

March 23 2009 ~ Questions and queries - Bluetongue Conference March 30

March 20 2009 ~ Bluetongue Stakeholder Conference on Monday 30th March

March 19 2009 ~ Approval for Merial's BTVPUR AlSap 8 in 5 days instead of six weeks

March 19 2009 ~ First batch of BTV8 vaccine expired on March 1, 35,000 doses are to be thrown away in England.

March 16 2009 ~ 95% of cattle were vaccinated in Holland last year because farmers were actually seeing cows with bluetongue symptoms.

March 16 2009 ~ The BTV6 zone in the Netherlands and Germany was lifted as of 5 March.

March 14 2009 ~ "one or two farmers had asked: should we bother to vaccinate..."

March 13 2009 ~ French farmers warned that vector activity has resumed

March 11 2009 ~ Scots are no longer importing animals susceptible to Bluetongue

March 10/11 2009 ~ EU Bluetongue vaccines show a "good safety record"

March 9 2009 ~" the public are not aware of these regional breeds and their significance in defining our countryside..."

March 8 2009 ~ MP Geoffrey Cox is calling for all livestock farmers to take advantage of the next few weeks and vaccinate their animals against Bluetongue before the warmer weather sets in.

March 6 2009 ~ JAB 2009 says, "Take advantage and vaccinate your animals before turning them out to protect them from the threat of bluetongue."

March 5 2009 ~" investigations suggest that no virulent BTV6 virus strain has circulated in the Netherlands or Germany"

March 4 2009 ~ "One in four livestock producers are unlikely to vaccinate against bluetongue this year.."

March 3 2009 ~ Emerging diseases: "controlling them will take a co-ordinated European and international approach"

March 3 2009 ~ "Farmers just hadn't realised the true risk and severity of bluetongue disease"

March 2 2009 ~ Bluetongue vaccine - expiry date concerns

March 2 2009 ~ DEFRA's overall contribution to Bluetongue Virus research

March 1 2009 ~ Vaccine price rising by 25%?

February 25 2009 ~ "wind spread of infected midges to the UK is not unlikely this summer..."

February 24 2009 ~"Alternative areas, such as antivirals, siRNA, interferon and nanotechnology, may be of future use in the control of Bluetongue.."

February 22/23 2009 ~ Bluetongue in Norway. "This is not a current outbreak."

February 20/21 2009 ~ First case in Norway

February 19 2009 ~ "good news for Merial and industry professionals throughout Europe who have put their faith in vaccination as part of the strategy to control bluetongue."

February 19 2009 ~ Extending date of expiry in unused vaccine stocks

February 16 2009 ~ 8 cattle holdings infected with Bluetongue serotype BTV-11 in Belgium

February 13 2009 ~ There may not be a midge in sight but now is the time to start thinking about protecting stock from bluetongue

February 13 2009 ~ Almost total coverage is essential - otherwise, while individual animals might be protected, the country will not be.

February 12 2009 ~ IAH says that the perceived value of Pirbright's bluetongue unit is £45m

February 11 2009 ~ BVA president, Nicky Paull, says Government leadership should rekindle vaccination momentum

February 11 2009 ~ BTV11 in Belgium - "This cow has tested positive for antibodies only and no virus has been discovered" Sabine Zentis.

February 11th 2009 ~ "cattle have been imported into the UK and subsequently found to be carriers of bluetongue, despite having been allegedly tested before shipping" -

February 11th 2009 ~ Importers vilified - in spite of preparations and expert advice

February 10th 2009 ~ "I can tell you it is a quite terrible illness that causes animals great pain.."

February 6th 2009 ~ Jakob Pustjens will spend Thursday at Thirsk auction mart describing his experiences to farmers and urging vaccination

February 6 2009 ~ New Bluetongue virus strain in Belgium- BTV11

February 6 2009 ~ How far is "climate change" responsible for BTV in Northern Europe?

February 5 2009 ~ "...an isolated PCR test for Blue tongue may cost £30. However....."

February 4 2009 ~ "PCR tests for bluetongue currently cost £30 a head before laboratory and veterinary charges are included"

February 3 2009 ~ "...you never think that bluetongue will affect you, until it does"

February 3 2009 ~ When Bluetongue returns there will be a shortfall of 16.3 million doses of vaccine to protect all livestock in England

February 2 2009 ~ Scotland's compulsory vaccination campaign is working

February 2 2009 ~ "anything less than 80 per cent of livestock protected against bluetongue means we will not control the disease."

February 1 2009 ~ No complacency from those who have seen the effects of Bluetongue

January 30 2009 ~ Importers should bear the cost of bluetongue testing, says NFU

January 29 2009 ~ The NFU in Wales has scotched the rumours that Bluetongue vaccine can cause abortion

January 20 2009 ~ PLAPROVA - Animal disease vaccines from plant proteins

January 18 2009 ~ Ramsak helps with vaccination drive.

January 17 2009 ~ Vaccine against BTV1?

January 16 2009 ~ Bluetongue serotype 8 in Italy and urgent movement restrictions in Sardinia

January 12 2009 ~ Western Isles: Crofters call for vaccination to be voluntary as it is in the Shetland Islands

January 6 2009 ~ No news on DEFRA bluetongue page since December 19

January 4 2009 ~ "Epidemiological investigations into the Dutch and German BTV-6 outbreaks are still continuing..."

December 19 2008 ~ All the progress we have made could be reversed...

December 18 2008 ~ More bluetongue in Austria

December 18 2008 ~12 cattle near Crewe test positive for BTV8

December 18 2008 ~ Lord Livsey of Talgarth asked whether the government would introduce emergency legislation to prevent the live import of susceptible animals

December 18 2008 ~ The Times publicises a radio programme on BBC World Service "One Planet -The Battle Against Bluetongue "

December 17 2008 ~ Guaranteed vaccine orders in Europe could leave England running short in the event of an outbreak

Tuesday 16 December 2008 ~ No tender for vaccine in 2009

Monday December 15 ~ Bluetongue round-up on latest ProMed posting.

Dec 15 ~ Vaccination starts in Southern Sweden for all farmed ruminants

Saturday December 13 2008 ~ Austria - a two-month-old calf with no clinical symptoms tests positive for bluetongue

December 12/13 ~ "inactive vaccine should not contain any live virus, so recrudescence could not occur in vaccinated animals, only in those which were naturally infected and had since recovered..."

Friday Dec 12 2008 ~ The SCOFCAH proposals could overhaul the way the EU tackles bluetongue.

Dec 12 ~ "potential hurdles in the way" - the cost of proper surveillance

Dec 12 ~ The threat from France

Thursday Dec 11 ~ "It is a pity that these decisions, particularly those covering the import of animals from areas where bluetongue is rife, were not made earlier in the year.."

Wednesday December 9/10 2008 ~ "A positive PCR result indicates that viral RNA is present in an animal; it does not on its own indicate that active ("live") virus is present."

December 7 2008 ~ The term "carrier" is open to misinterpretation. A PCR positive result doesn't always mean the animal is infective for the midge

December 5 2008 ~ EU Commission is urged to establish a European Bluetongue vaccine bank

December 5 2008 ~ Can the Commission explain why it is planning a vaccine bank for African Horse sickness but not for Bluetongue virus?

December 4 2008 ~ Prionics offers the PrioCHECK(R) BTV DR, a diagnostic test that detects all 24 BTV serotypes known.

December 4 2008 ~ " EU to rewrite vaccination and livestock movement rules" says Farmers Weekly

December 4 2008 ~ Yesterday's EU decision brings pre-emptive vaccination nearer

December 2 2008 ~ DEFRA's Bluetongue Control Strategy has been updated.

December 1 2008 ~ SCOFCAH to discuss plans to re-vamp Europe's bluetongue controls tomorrow

November 30/ Dec 1 2008 ~ they 'know' because the labs are too secure that Bluetongue type 6 did not escape from the Central Veterinary Institute (Wageningen)

November 30/ Dec 1 2008 ~ Report from the Symposium Emerging vector borne viral diseases - Lelystad, November 28, 2008

November 27 2008 ~ "inactivated vaccines against BTV serotypes 1, 2, 4, and 8 should be currently available.....the industry needs EU coordination - Member States to launch a call for tender ... rapidly followed by confirmation of orders ..."

November 27 2008 ~ ProMed posting on BTV1 in the UK and BTV-1 ex France, BTV-6 in the Netherlands

November 25/26 2008 ~ Pre vaccination blood tests should be undertaken by the exporter and insisted on by the importer

November 25/26 2008 ~ "Regarding the origin of the BTV-6 strain.. the "flower" route has yet to be ruled out, but is far from being confirmed.."

November 25 2008 ~ BTV1 in North West - reports from both Farmers Guardian and Farmers Weekly

November 25 2008 ~ BTV1 is now in England, a farm in the North West, near Blackpool.

November 25 2008 ~ Only a properly encouraged vaccination coverage can stop Bluetongue in its tracks - post import checks won't do it.

November 25 2008 ~ What systems exist to monitor the prevalence of blue tongue disease throughout the UK? asked James Paice

November 24 2008 ~ EFSA's attempt to assess risks linked to Bluetongue transmission during transit

November 23 2008 ~ "Due thanks MUST be given to researchers at Pirbright, who have done a fantastic job in unwravelling the conundrums that the appearance of BTV in Europe posed."

November 22 2008 ~ "Not a single vet in the room could report a genuine side effect in cattle sheep or goats which was not subsequently explained by other disease or mishap."

November 21 2008 ~ Nigel Miller: "We need a UK-wide health policy and we need it now.".

November 20 2008 ~ "DEFRA remains alert to the spread of BTV-1..."

November 20 2008 ~ Vaccination in the north of England "may be less than 40 per cent." - and over 5 million pounds-worth of BTV-8 vaccine remains unsold

November 20 2008 ~ East Yorks NFU "delighted with the way farmers have responded" - but questions remain

November 19 2008 ~ EU proposals to permit vaccination in disease free areas

November 19 2008 ~ More cases of BTV1 found in France yesterday and today

November 14 ~ BTV-6 - That only one to 2 animals per holding have been found infected by BTV-6 on each affected farm "is puzzling"

November 14 ~ Origins of this "enigmatic outbreak" of BTV6 not yet solved

November 14 ~ BTV-6 "...more needs to be done to determine and confirm the origin of this outbreak"

November 12/13 ~ vaccination plan for 2009 will be published "by December of this year"

November 11 2008 ~ Christiane Glossop warns "the risk of bluetongue continues to be high"

November 10 2008 ~ Updated map of European restriction zones from EU

November 9/10 2008 ~ BTV-1 - "a significant leap of this virus"

November 9/10 2008 ~ BTV-6 "source of the infection and/or the route of its introduction remain, for the time being, unknown"

November 8 2008 ~ Agrarisch Dagblad report on BTV-1 in the Netherlands

November 7 2008 ~ "inspection authorities are always one step behind or cannot get a grip on the complicated networks of trade contacts and transport movements"

November 7 2008 ~ BTv-6 - EU Commission plans to reevaluate the situation and measures on 11 Nov 2008.

November 7 2008 ~ More on the virus "Toggenburg Orbivirus [TOV]"

November 7 2008 ~ Extract from pdf file "Genetic Characterization of Toggenburg Orbivirus, a New Bluetongue Virus, from Goats, Switzerland"

November 7 2008 ~ Qiagen has licensed a molecular assay to detect all 24 strains of bluetongue.

November 6 2008 ~ Merial says, "..nothing in the pipeline for BTV-6."

November 6 ~ And now, more cases of BTv6, this time in Germany

November 5 ~ First case of Bluetongue in Austria - vaccination to take place in 150 km ring

November 4 2008 ~ The government does not know how many bluetongue vaccines have been administered in the last 12 months

November 3 2008 ~ When to vaccinate pregnant animals against Bluetongue

November 2/3 2008 ~ The compulsory vaccination of more than 7 million cattle and sheep in Scotland begins

November 2/3 2008 ~"Swiss virus is clearly a novel bluetongue virus (BTV), not a mutant/recombinant/reassortant of previously characterised viruses"

October 31 2008 ~ An extra 100 million euros on fighting bluetongue in 2009, on top of the 60 million euros already pledged

October 31 2008 ~ Netherlands BTv6 report : "The virology is excellent and the conclusions are carefully worded..." says ProMed

October 31 2008 ~ New strain of BTv in Switzerland, says Farmers Guardian

October 24 2008 ~ BTV6 is the "new" strain found in Holland

October 24 2008 ~ "persistent rumours are gradually taking momentum away from the vaccination programme..."

October 23 2008 ~ New vaccine supplier on the block

October 22 2008 ~ Holland's supposed "ban on breeding" - (and the "new" strain seems to be limited to the three farms)

October 22 2008 ~ ProMed carries Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, press release

Oct 22 2008 ~ Can the Dutch have really banned animals from breeding during the ban?

October 22 2008 ~ Wales: "I am sure that many if not most farmers will vaccinate in the Spring of 2009. Some locals have said as much to me."

Oct 22 2008 ~ Scotland: "This worrying development serves as a sharp reminder.."

October 21 2008 ~ If animals are tested negative with this ELISA it does not mean that they have not been vaccinated, says VLA

October 21 2008 ~ "sometimes there are larger interests at stake" - the story of the possible new strain in the Netherlands

October 21 2008 ~ Questions needing answers

October 20 2008 ~ Dutch agriculture department has ordered a export ban for breeding cattle from 6.00 pm today

October 19 2008 ~ ProMed comment on the apparently new strain in Holland

October 18 2008 ~ New serotype discovered in Holland?

October 16 2008 ~ Switzerland - GIS and transmission models used to improve larger and more targeted surveillance

October 15 2008 ~ "Our fear is that without adequate funding we will not be able to maintain the high standards of livestock disease control and provide such vigorous enforcement."

October 13 2008 ~ Eradication cannot result from unco-ordinated piecemeal action in Europe

October 13 ~ If the vaccination message has not got through, why hasn't it?

October 12 2008 ~ "stop pushing the golden egg over the edge!"

October 9 2008 ~Compulsory bluetongue vaccination in Scotland starts on November 3 for all cattle and sheep

October 7 2008 ~ French cases of both serotypes continue to rise. BTv1 zone continue to extend northwards

October 6 2008 ~ "We can definitely say that any rumours of health issues with the vaccine are just nonsense" Malcolm Corbett, North East livestock representative, NFU

October 3 2008 ~ Veterinary expert, Dr Johannes Winkelmann, says peak periods for bluetongue infection are September, October and November.

September 30 2008 ~ Welsh Liberal Democrat, Kirsty Williams, urges farmers not to import - and to vaccinate.

September 29 2008 ~ "peanuts compared with the cost of treating even a couple of sheep which get the disease "

September 28/29 2008 ~ "All the rumours re the vaccine causing infertility and abortion are tosh- the real and actual risk is the infection with the BTV8 virus...."

September 26/27 2008 ~ "DEFRA has given farmers a chance to show that we can act collectively and responsibly"

Sept 25 2008 ~ Ruthin: the risk of transmission is "negligible"

Sept 25 2008 ~ The march of BTv1 in France

Sept 23 2008 ~ "mine were the only vaccinated female sheep offered for sale out of over four thousand auctioned in Llandovery mart...."

Sept 22 2008 ~ First batches of Fort Dodge cattle vaccine, Zulvac, in the UK today

Sept 22 2008 ~ "low levels of seroconversion post-vaccination should not put people off vaccinating their stock..."

September 22 2008 ~ "this detailed, pacifying information will encourage animal breeders... to complete the timely vaccination.."

Sept 20 2008 ~ Third Denbighshire bull confirmed after further tests.

September 19 2008 ~ Fears that vaccine may affect breeding has led many to leave vaccine in the fridge. "Bloody idiots," says Alun Edwards of the FUW

September 19 2008 ~ Vilnius Conference press release "permanent surveillance and vaccination: best tools for containing bluetongue"

September 18 2008 ~ Wales - 7 cattle are being re-tested to discover the "extent" of the infection

September 18 2008 ~ The Netherlands considers buying BTv1 vaccine

September 18 2008 ~ "cynical" Scottish farmers reminded of the midge's ability to live in cold climate

September 17 2008 ~ Romania reports bluetongue test results from animals imported from the UK

September 16/17 2008 ~Scotland: "Around seven million farm animals will be vaccinated to stop the "clear and present threat" of the bluetongue virus"

September 16/17 2008 ~ Bluetongue tests positive in Denbighshire (Wales)

September 16/17 2008 ~ "the maximal period when ruminants are thought to be infectious to competent insect vectors..."

September 15 2008 ~ German Bluetongue Expert coming to Hexham Northumberland

September 15 2008 ~ "So many rumours are circulating regarding this problem, many of which are totally untrue"

September 15 2008 ~ "narrowing down the list of suspects"

September 13 2008 ~ Hungary has its 1st case of bluetongue

September 13 2008 ~ Switzerland: "Unvaccinated cows, sheep, and goats currently returning from summer pastures, should be vaccinated immediately".

September 12 2008 ~ More post import tests show traces of Bluetongue

September 11 2008 ~ Cattle in Somerset have "tested positive"

September 11 2008 ~ If active BTV is not present, there is no actual risk of further infection or spread..."

September 11 2008 ~ Recent evidence indicates a drop or delay in take-up of vaccine in counties recently brought into the PZ.

September 10 2008 ~ Bluetongue in 18 imported cattle in County Durham

September 10 2008 ~ Fears of importing serotype 1 from France

September 8 ~ Bluetongue in Sweden

Sept 6/7 2008 ~ Vaccination guidelines, UK

September 6 2008 ~ ProMed posting on situation in Germany and France

September 6 2008 ~ The question of how bluetongue virus survives through the winter

Sept 4 2008 ~ New cases of BTV1 in South West France

Sept 4 2008 ~ Devon MP Richard Younger-Ross questions why imported cattle are tested on arrival rather than before export.

Sept 4 2008 ~ Tiverton BTV positive heifers showing no visible signs of bluetongue

Sept 4 2008 ~ A new technique for genetically "bar-coding" biting midges

Sept 3 2008 ~ Worrying new cases in South West France

September 3 2008 ~Bluetongue: SCFCAH agenda

September 2 2008 ~ Clarification - Vaccine (vaccine uses killed virus) itself cannot, of course, produce viraemia.

September 1 2008 ~ Intervet has found low level viraemia in vaccinated animals after vaccination. (Please see clarification above)

September 1 2008 ~ Nigel Gibbens defends the decision not to slaughter the animals at Tiverton

August 31st 2008 ~ Mass vaccination can begin in Wales tomorrow

August 30th 2008 ~ BTv-1 on the march northwards in France

August 29th 2008 ~ More bluetongue imports

August 29th 2008 ~ First new case in Denmark

August 28 2008 ~ Bluetongue vaccine may arrive too late to help Cumbrian farmers

August 28 2008 ~ Cow infected in Switzerland between first and second vaccination

August 28 2008 ~ "It was entirely predictable..."

August 27 2008 ~ Post import testing has found Bluetongue in imported rams in Southern England

August 27 2008 ~ Scotland - the price of delay

August 25 2008 ~ Grim statistics from France

August 22 2008 ~ Pictures of misery

August 22 2008 ~ "alleged that the uptake of voluntary bluetongue vaccination in the areas south of Cumbria and Northumberland has been alarmingly low"

August 21 2008 ~ Scotland reacts to news that all England will be a PZ by September

21 August 2008 ~ Welsh unions are worried some producers may gamble and wait to vaccinate their animals next spring to save money.

20 August 2008 ~ Bluetongue Protection Zone will be extended into Northumberland and Cumbria "shortly", says DEFRA.

20 August 2008 ~" the north of England and Scotland may well be hit harder by bluetongue disease.."

20 August 2008 ~ First Swiss case in 2008 - in an unvaccinated sheep

18 August 2008 ~ Wales: "Farmers who intend to take their animals to sales in the current disease-free areas of Scotland and northern England are advised to move them before the end of August "

16 August 2008 ~ five new cases in the north of the Netherlands confirmed yesterday

16 August 2008 ~ "....the challenge is really to try and persuade Scotland to speed up its vaccination programme so that everyone is in the same zone as quickly as possible...."

.

15 August 2008 ~ NFU Scotland is calling for a halt in the bluetongue vaccination programme before it reaches the north of England..


While one sympathises of course with the Scottish farmers, the idea that vaccination should be halted just at the most critical time for midge activity is not helpful. It seems that even Nigel Miller himself realises this. As the FWi says, "he conceded that it was an issue for DEFRA and farmers south of the border to decide."
The article concludes with the acknowledgement from NFU chief livestock adviser Dylan Morgan that the over-riding consideration was halting the spread of bluetongue.

15 August 2008 ~ "in contrast to the 2008 situation in continental Europe, no renewed BTV-8 circulation has been recorded on the British Isles so far..."

15 August 2008 ~ The adjuvants present in Bluetongue vaccine can cause false positives on TB tests

15 August 2008 ~Sheep farmers are being advised not to use the vaccine within two weeks either side of tupping

14 August 2008 ~ "the need for a concerted effort from the livestock industry to reignite their interest in vaccination"

11 August 2008 ~ Defra: "As of 00.01 Monday 11 August 2008 the Protection Zone will be extended again...

8 August 2008 ~ Why is the Lake District - with all its hill farms and sheep - still left out of the PZ?

7 August 2008 ~ 2008 virus in Holland

6 August 2008 ~ All Wales to become PZ by the end of the month, it is hoped

5 August 2008 ~ Protection zone set to extend further on Thursday (August 7) after Merial delivered the first batch of its 13 million doses

1 August 2008 ~ The strain originates from sub-Saharan Africa

1 August 2008 ~ New EU -wide Bluetongue legislation comes into force today

31 July, 2008 ~ Current situation in France

31 July, 2008 ~ vaccination programme "at risk of becoming a victim of its own success": Peter Morris

July 28 2008 ~ " potentially very damaging to Scotland's livestock, let alone livestock throughout the EU...".

July 26 2008 ~ PZ expands again on Monday 28th July

July 25 2008 ~ There may not be an absolute vector-free period in some areas, says EFSA

July 24 2008 ~ Cumbria is not yet in Protection Zone

July 21 2008 ~ Latest map of zones

July 21 2008 ~ Insecticide manufacturer PelGar International has published a free booklet

July 21 2008 ~ Wales may change its strategy to incorporate the whole of Wales in a protection zone.

July 18/19 2008 ~ In Wales, the roll-out of bluetongue vaccine has suffered a setback.

July 17 ~ Protection Zone will be extended again on Monday 21 July

Monday 14 July ~ "a particular threat to our Farm Animal Genetic Resources"

Monday 14 July ~ PZ extended today..

Saturday 12 July ~ "It's all very well talking about the successes of bluetongue, but what hope is there of people working together now?"

Friday 11 July ~ The National Beef Association says breeders looking for replacements, or store stock for feeding, will soon require proof of vaccination before they purchase

Friday 11 July ~ Risk involved if pregnant cows are imported

Wednesday July 9 ~The new declaration comes into force on the 14 July 2008 at 00.01.

Wednesday July 9 ~ a DNA-based system has been developed that may "pave the way for the development of a highly safe, and successful vaccine against bluetongue"

July 8 ~"From today, the details on the VLA webisite of our turnaround time for the Bluetongue PCR have been modified..."

July 8 ~ NFU and BVA "fully supportive of this investigation"

Tuesday 8 July ~ widespread ignorance around about the seriousness of the disease

Tuesday 8 July ~ no infrastructure in place for accurate checking on the numbers of vaccinates

Tuesday 8 July ~ A worrying abrogation of responsibility

Monday July 7 2008 ~ The Protection Zone will be extended again today

July 3/4 2008 ~ The VLA addresses concerns about the turn round time for the Bluetongue PCR, particularly for goat breeders.

July 3 2008 ~ South West Wales will be next

July 3 2008 ~ Experts have predicted an early influx of the Culicoides midge

July 3 2008 ~ Scotland's vaccine is to be available in 100ml bottles only.

July 2 2008 ~ Another new case in France

July 2 2008 ~ Testing other ruminants for export "...the turn round for these tests is 7 working days! How on earth are we meant to cope with this?"

July 1 2008 ~ PCR test for Bluetongue

Tuesday July 1 2008 ~ Vaccine arrives in South East Wales

June 30 2008 ~ PZ now covers the whole of France

June 29 2008 ~ "..may be the best option from the point of view of trade restrictions in the short term, but it is not the best way of controlling spread and therefore of protecting trade in the longer run."

June 27 2008 ~ NFU Scotland has welcomed the announcement that the Scottish Government has placed its order for Bluetongue vaccine

June 27 2008 ~ Zones will be extended today. Latest vaccine batch has cleared

June 25 2008 ~ As expected, no order has yet been placed for Bluetongue serotype 8 vaccine (BTV8) for Scotland.

24 June 2008 ~ DEFRA issues New Licence

June 24 2008 ~ Worse and worse..

June 24 2008 ~"I've done my best to explain why but keep feeling I shouldn't have to do this..."

June 24 2008 ~ Fort Dodge has begun to supply Italy with BTV8 vaccine

June 24 2008 ~ "We are based on Dartmoor and to my concern a significant number of our neighbours have decided not to vaccinate .."

June 24 2008 ~ Austria will start vaccinating livestock in the regions bordering Germany from July.

June 23 2008 ~ 3D model of the Blue Tongue virus 5,200,000 times the size of the real thing has been created by Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) engineering researchers

June 23 2008 ~ Open Letter to Charles Milne asks for early vaccination in Scotland to be accompanied by a voluntary import ban while effective vaccination is being completed

June 20 2008 ~ "...as Anna Hill finds out, vaccination is patchy and there is no system in place to monitor how many animals have been treated."

June 20 2008 ~ Federation of Veterinarians of Europe warning revisited

June 20 2008 ~ June 2 batch of vaccine clearing for shipment - we hope

June 19 2008 ~ Roll-out of the vaccine to the South East Wales bluetongue restriction zone "imminent".

June 19 2008 ~ DEFRA's next batch of vaccine from Intervet, already prepared, has been undergoing "rigorous quality control testing"

June 17 2008 ~ "no significant fertility problems have been reported"

June 17 2008 ~ Midgeater and Barrfly technology "This technology is an essential building block in ensuring we can control the disease.." Nigel Miller

June 16 2008 ~ Farmers should vaccinate and not be deterred by unsubstantiated rumour

June 13 2008 ~ Farmers should always read the insert that comes with animal health products says Intervet Animal Health.

June 13 2008 ~ OIE booklet on Bluetongue in Northern Europe

June 12 2008 ~ "English colleagues show that it is very difficult to isolate infectious virus from these calves," says Van Rijn

June 12 2008 ~ consensus for the possible vertical and horizontal transmission of BTV during "vector-free period"

June 12 2008 ~ Welsh Assembly has today announced that they will allow the movement of animals from the English PZ direct to slaughter to designated slaughterhouses in the Welsh Free Area. See movement licence page.

June 11 2008 ~ UK now has two suppliers and Merial is delighted with the order.

June 11 2008 ~ 13 million more doses for England and Wales

June 11 2008 ~ flukicides and wormers.

June 11 2008 ~ Fuel strikes stop vaccination in Germany

June 10 2008 ~ Agrarisch Dagblad on the rapid spread of BTV-8 compared to bluetongue in North America.

June 8 2008 ~ Vaccine is in short supply. The vector free period is now over.

June 7 2008 ~ 136 holdings now....

June 6 2008~ "I'm not sure exactly who should have told me. "

June 4 2008 ~ Germany opts for CZV of Spain to supply 14.8 million doses of BLUEVAC-8

June 3 2008 ~ DEFRA ".. the batch of vaccine which was due this week needs to undergo further testing before it can be released"

June 3 2008 ~ Deer at a Kent woodland have been vaccinated

June 2 2008 ~ Vaccination against bluetongue is expected to begin today in in the current restricted zone in south-east Wales

June 2008 ~ FAQs - Intervet website

May 30 2008 ~"culls would take place at the centre of an outbreak" ???

May 30 2008 ~ Successful vaccination will protect stock and livelihoods

May 30 2008 ~ What about camelids?

May 27 2008 ~ EBLEX online 'how to' guide on Bluetongue vaccination for beef and sheep producers.

May 26 2008 ~ Current Protection Zone map

May 26 2008 ~ Wales will vaccinate in a week's time but supplies could be low

May 23 2008 ~ "from my point of view I have to congratulate the UK, the zones will be extended again and vaccine is available..."

May 23 2008 ~ New Chief Vet

May 22 2008 ~ "Bovilis® BTV8 The data below is specific to the United Kingdom..."

May 19 2008 ~ Bluetongue Protection Zone was extended again at six o'clock this morning

May 19 2008 ~ 12 per cent cut back in Defra funding affects vital animal health work in Mid Wales.

May 18 2008 ~ "Vaccination of animals kept for breeding will reduce the chance of infected calves during the following season"

May 17 2008 ~ Unborn calves can be infected with bluetongue from the mother-cow - says agrarisch Dagblad

May 17 2008 ~ It is likely that the current restricted zone in south east Wales could be declared a Protection Zone within weeks.

May 16 2008 ~ " a real chance of holding the disease in the Eastern counties" - provided there is blanket vaccination

We had been fortunate in terms of midge activity, in having a cold April, and in Intervet's ability to come up with the vaccine sooner than predicted, he said.

May 16 2008 ~ "success depends on vaccine supply and speed of applying it..."

May 16 2008 ~ "a logistical nightmare to get them back in, in batches, to vaccinate cows and their calves when these are at the "right" age"

May 16 2008 ~ DEFRA reports the PZ will be extended again on Monday

May 14 2008 ~ Record lamb prices at Shrewsbury. Can vaccination save UK farming?

May 13 2008 ~ Appeal for bluetongue protection zone status 'as soon as possible' in Wales

May 11 2008 ~ "In the absence of any response from The Scotsman.."

May 10 ~ Report of the National Emergency Epidemiology Group 18 April 2008 [Revised 30 April]

May 9 ~ Declaration and changes to the Zones come into force on the 12 May 2008 at 06:00.

May 9 ~ The Netherlands: No Dutch vet = No Dutch vaccines

May 9 ~ Sheep farmers not impressed by odd advice to delay vaccination in sheep

May 8/9 2008 ~ Are we in danger of forgetting that the reason to vaccinate is to prevent BTV 8 infection, to prevent BTV 8 from spreading further?

May 8/9 2008 ~Defra has today announced that the Bluetongue Protection Zones will be extended and merged on Monday 12 May

May 8 2008 ~ "not all farmers have ordered the BTV vaccine, especially those with large herds and conservation grazing and without access to mobile crushes"

May 8 2008 ~" the Dutch vet can have no grounds to claim the protection is so short that it should only be used in July to cover the next 4 months."

May 7 2008 ~ "we will expand the Protection Zones as soon as that vaccine is available.."

May 7/8 2008 ~ Vaccination of sheep now in May would cover them for the rest of the season, says Dr Ruth Watkins

May 7 2008 ~" It remains to see if vaccination, restricted to PZ's, will contribute to the prevention of BTV-8 spreading to the other regions .." ProMed

May 5 2008 ~ "young animals can be expected to respond well to vaccine from birth"

May 3/4 2008 ~ British Veterinary Association (BVA) website's key considerations for veterinary surgeons

May 3 2008 ~ Vaccine guns cannot deliver 1 ml dose from the 20ml vaccine bottles

May 2 2008 ~ "... wait-and-see policy favoured by farmers is fully supported by the Scottish government."

May 1 2008 ~ "one of the positives to come out of FMD 2001 ....a 'progressive', intelligent and humane response"

May 1 2008 ~ Peter Kendall launches the national campaign "Don't hesitate, vaccinate" from a Norfolk farm today

Thursday May 1 2008 ~ Vaccination should begin today in the protection zone

Wednesday April 30 2008 ~ Postcard campaign well under way in the South East

Tuesday April 29 2008 ~ Intervet has released the first batch of Bluetongue BTV8 vaccine for Northern Europe.

Tuesday April 29 2008 ~ Farmers Guardian Bluetongue Q and A page

Friday 25th April ~ "vaccine could begin arriving at wholesalers next week in readiness for distribution"

25 April ~ "Registering for vaccination with your vet must become a top priority. Do it today. There is huge urgency."

Friday 25th April ~ How to vaccinate. Videos on Farmers Weekly site

Friday 25th April ~ "We have no plans to hold discussions with the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe to discuss DEFRA's vaccination plan."

Thursday 24 April ~ Realisation dawns...not enough vaccine

Thursday 24 April ~ Farmers Guardian will be interviewing some of the key players

Monday 21st April ~ Draft European Commission regulation modifying movement rules now approved.

Sunday 20th April ~ "DEFRA ... will have no way of knowing what percentage of animals in an area or on a holding are vaccinated"

Friday 18th April ~ " ... The second that I can get my hands on the vaccine, it will be done."

Friday 18th April ~ Tim Farron says vaccination for rare breeds should be a top priority

Friday 18th April ~ DEFRA is being persuaded to order 8 million more doses - we hope

Wednesday 16th April ~ "Animal health and welfare is simply too important to remain as at present..

April 16 2008 ~ BBSRC Chief Executive Steve Visscher : "The BBSRC Council and Executive are extremely grateful to Professor Beringer and his review panel for the thoughtful and incisive nature of their report.

Friday April 11 2008 ~"responsibility without power" No-one wants to be the next Chief Veterinary Officer?

Friday April 11 2008 ~ Will inactivated vaccine protect the foetus?

Friday April 11 2008 ~ end the complexities

April 10 2008 ~ Several hundred French farmers block Mont Blanc over compensation

April 10 2008 ~ "Dear members of the Council, and Mrs Androulla Vassiliou..."

April 9 2008 ~ Scots to vaccinate in compulsory campaign....now confirmed...

April 9 2008 ~ Under new EU rules, decided today, vaccinated animals and those considered immune will be free to move from bluetongue zones into bluetongue free areas.

April 9 2008 ~ "....accumulating evidence that infection with BTV-8 during pregnancy in cattle may lead to congenital brain defects..."

April 9 2008 ~ Switzerland has ordered 4 million doses of bluetongue vaccine - from all three manufacturers: Fort Dodge, Intervet and Merial.

April 9 2008 ~ "Many of my cows have again developed bleeding from the nose..."

Tuesday April 8 2008 ~ Are recovered animals really immune?

Tuesday April 8 2008 ~ JAB's progress

Tuesday April 8 2008 ~ Veterinary profession tries to voice its advice and concerns to the Government "not always as successfully as one might have wished"

Tuesday April 8 2008 ~ Bluetongue causes a loss of over 39 million pounds to Dutch Livestock sector

Monday April 7/8 2008 ~ failure to communicate effectively with farmers or with vets, despite "consultations" and road shows

Monday April 7 2008 ~ " High time the whole country was treated as infected and an urgent all out campaign adopted to vaccinate everything..."

Sunday April 6 2008 ~ Direct link to the NBA petition

April 6 ~ " three million doses will be delivered in May"

April 5 ~ " scientists who, if they were truly independent, should be shouting from the roofs of their institutes (or homepages of their websites) .."

April 4/5 2008 ~ Defra officials ignore their own notices

April 4/5 2008 ~ More a plug for themselves than emergency information for worried farmers?

April 3 2008 ~ Bluetongue vaccination roll out plan published

April 3 2008 ~ vaccination "could significantly reduce bluetongue virus circulation .." says Jonathan Shaw - but uninfected zones stymied by EU legislation

April 3 2008 ~ ProMed informed by Pirbright that no new cases infected in past four months "as far as we are aware"

April 3 2008 ~"..... the reality of the "vector-free" season"

April 3 2008 ~ Departments in part of S W France now regulated for both BTV-8 and BTV-1; vaccination will be reassessed to take into account the evolution of the disease.

April 2/3 2008 ~ "the lack of scientific evidence to support an immediate prospect of eradication through vaccination suggests that the case for compulsion is weak." Jonathan Shaw

April 2 2008 ~ Scotland - although the livestock industry is unanimous in its demand for the vaccine, none has yet been ordered