DEPARTMENT FOR
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS News Release (209/08) issued by
The Government News Network on 2 July 2008
Defra has today
announced that the Bluetongue Protection Zone will be extended
again on Monday 7 July, following the delivery by Intervet of
almost 2 million additional doses of Bluetongue vaccine.
Vaccination is only permitted within the Protection Zone. In
accordance with the Bluetongue vaccination plan, the Protection
Zone will be extended to cover all of the East Riding of Yorkshire
(including the City of Kingston upon Hull), South Yorkshire (made
up of the metropolitan boroughs of Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham
and Sheffield), Gloucestershire (including the unitary authority
of South Gloucestershire) and Warwickshire. We will continue to
roll out vaccination as vaccine is delivered, in line with the
vaccination roll-out plan.
The additional vaccine is available for use in the existing
Protection Zone from today. Livestock keepers in the areas coming
into the Protection Zone will be able to obtain the vaccine from
Monday. However, they are encouraged to order vaccine so that they
can protect their livestock at the earliest opportunity.
Protection Zone restrictions will apply to those keepers coming
into the extended zone. Animals can only be moved out of the
Protection Zone if they are vaccinated, naturally immune or moving
for slaughter, subject to meeting certain conditions. Animals will
also be able to be moved between the Protection Zones in Wales and
England, subject to the conditions on the transit licence.
Please refer to the Defra website for further guidance.
Notes to editors
1. The Protection Zone will be expanded at 00:01 on Monday 7 July
to cover all of the East Riding of Yorkshire, South Yorkshire,
Gloucestershire and Warwickshire.
2. The vaccination roll-out plan is available on the Defra
website at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/bluetongue/control/vaccination/vaccination-rolloutplan.htm
3. Further information, including maps of the Bluetongue Zones
and guidance on movement restrictions, can be found at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/bluetongue
4. Further information is available to farmers via the Defra
helpline (0845 9335577) and website: http://www.defra.gov.uk
Public enquiries 08459 335577;
Press notices are available on
our website
http://www.defra.gov.uk
Defra's aim is sustainable development
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