FMD
There is no change in the situation with FMD. Intensive surveillance is still ongoing in the PZ and SZ and plans are being formulated to allow lifting of the SZ once 21 days after primary C&D of the last premises has taken place.

BLUETONGUE
At 5pm on 8th October there was 30 cases of Bluetongue confirmed. Most of these are still in the Ipswich area with 2 in the Lowestoft area and 2 in Essex. The Essex cases although within the present BT 20km zone, may require a small change to the area.

Approximately 50% of these cases are detected on clinical signs. The remainder are being picked up on surveillance bleeding. About 50% of the herds tested are proving positive, but only up to 6% of animals within each herd are positive.

If you are interested in seeing photographs of the types of lesions being seen in the Ipswich are due to Bluetongue these are available at:

www.vla.gov.uk/science/science-viral-bluetongue.htm

Veterinary Laboratory Agency are now accepting live animals from outside the FMD PZ and SZ.