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SOUTH West farmers are being urged to vaccinate their livestock as a priority, to stop bluetongue from taking hold in the UK as it has in Europe.

As South West Farmer went to press, the first anniversary of bluetongue being detected in England was fast approaching. Midge activity is also now approaching its peak and the JAB campaign group insist the disease is on the move and must be stopped.

So far this year France has reported 4,543 cases of bluetongue, including cases in Calais. The Netherlands has just confirmed its first case of the disease in 2008.

With the threat of bluetongue re-emergence in the UK growing by the day, JAB leaders have issued a reminder to farmers to contact their vets as soon as their region is in the protection zone and vaccine is available. Most of the south west has already been placed with the protection zone.

"The amount of cases being reported across Europe shows the disease is on the move. This most recent case in Holland demonstrates that not vaccinating livestock leaves farmers vulnerable to outbreaks now the midge season has started," said a statement from JAB.

"The industry has rallied behind the JAB campaign and has done tremendously well in terms of vaccination. Nearly 19 million doses have already been made available to English farmers, and with another nine million doses planned to be released in the coming weeks we need those areas that are new to the protection zone to vaccinate as soon as they are able."

Farmers are reminded that bluetongue could already be circulating in areas where outbreaks occurred last year so the risks to everyone remain serious.

"The explosion in the number of cases on the continent also acts as a timely reminder to those farmers in the current protection zone who have not vaccinated and the dangers this presents to their unprotected livestock," say JAB.

"We are entering the peak period for midge activity so vaccination is the only way to prepare and protect us from any potential outbreaks that may emerge in the coming weeks."

The bluetongue protection zone was extended to many parts of the North of England during August.

JAB members, who include representatives from most agricultural associations and groups, say the importance of the vaccination programme cannot be emphasised enough if the disease is to be brought under control and finally stamped out.

3:20pm Wednesday 27th August 2008

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