Defra inspectors discovered the diseased animal while it was undergoing regular post-importation testing. The farm where it was found was immediately placed under observation and declared off limits while a full epidemiological investigation is being conducted.
The protect the local animal population from infection, the cow will be culled, according to Defra. Despite the discovery of the sick animal, the existing Bluetongue zones will not be expanded since there is no evidence the deadly virus has spread into the region.
Bluetongue affects only animals such as sheep, cattle, deer and goats, not humans. It was first discovered in northern Europe last autumn. Fred Landeg, the state's acting chief veterinary officer asked importers to carefully consider the potential risks to the entire agriculture industry of the U.K. before bringing in imported animals outside the Bluetongue zones.
