Farmers in and around the Temporary Control Zone (TCZ), can now access and call a dedicated bluetongue hotline to get advice or ask questions linked to the current situation.

• All farmers and keepers of animals can access the bluetongue hotline: 024 7771 0386
• NFU members can also access the CallFirst hotline: 0370 845 8458

The bluetongue hotline is available 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday and has been set up to support farmers affected following the confirmed case near Canterbury, Kent on 11 November 2023.

Farmers will be signposted to Ruminant Health & Welfare (RH&W) bluetongue hub for the most up-to-date bluetongue information, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) for queries relating to surveillance testing and Defra for details on available licenses for any animal movements.

Surveillance is on-going in the 10km TCZ following the BTV-3 bluetongue case says Dr Joseph Henry BVMS Cert SHP MRCVS, chair of the RH&W bluetongue working group and president of the Sheep Veterinary Society.

“If you farm animals in or around the TCZ, or are a smallholder with sheep, cattle or camelids, please do ensure you are registered with your paperwork up-to-date, to allow routine disease surveillance to be undertaken so we can build an accurate picture of the disease situation.” 

For more information about registering , please visit Register land you use to keep livestock - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). For the latest advice on legislation around animal movements and licenses, please visit the RH&W bluetongue hub Bluetongue Virus - Ruminant Health & Welfare (ruminanthw.org.uk).

In the UK, bluetongue, including BTV-3, is a notifiable disease, so anyone suspecting the disease must take action and report it to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).

Further information on clinical signs and resources can be found here: https://ruminanthw.org.uk/bluetongue-virus/