Vaccination is only permitted within the Protection Zone therefore in accordance with the Bluetongue vaccination plan. A further one million doses of vaccine, available in 50 dose bottles, are available for use in the Protection Zone. Those keepers coming into the new Protection Zone will be subject to the same restrictions as those in the existing Protection Zone. Animals can only be moved out of the Protection Zone if they are vaccinated, naturally immune or for slaughter, subject to meeting certain conditions. Please refer to the Defra website for further guidance.
Defra has also published an epidemiology report on the distribution of Bluetongue infection in Great Britain, based on surveillance work up to 15 March. The evidence considered in the report suggests that Bluetongue has not spread beyond the current Protection Zone boundaries. This supports our vaccination strategy which has been devised to tackle the most at-risk areas first, gradually expanding the Protection Zone westward as more vaccine becomes available.
Further information, including an interactive map of the Bluetongue Zones, guidance on movement restrictions and the epidemiology report can be accessed by following the links below.
