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 21 August 2008 21:51 BST

Brown praises farmers as bluetongue outbreak spreads

Saturday, 29 Sep 2007 18:21
The farming industry has been hit by first foot and mouth and then bluetongue

Health In Focus 

Gordon Brown has called for "vigilance" from the farming community as the number of bluetongue cases in Britain rises to 11.

A full outbreak of the viral disease in Britain was officially confirmed by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) yesterday.

Mr Brown, speaking from Downing Street today, said he had met with members of the industry and expressed his gratitude about the efforts being made by farmers to contain the disease circulating between animals and midges in East Anglia.

He said environment secretary Hilary Benn would consult with experts in the next few days to assess the financial consequences of the disease.

The prime minister also promised that the government would "report back" on "how we can relax regulatory and bureaucratic requirements in the farming industry".

"We remain absolutely determined to stamp out the disease, to contain, control and eradicate it," he said.

"We will also continue to work very closely… with the farming community in the country."

A 20km control zone has been established around the area where the first five cases have been identified in Suffolk.

In addition a 150km bluetongue protection zone covering parts of counties from Lincolnshire to Sussex has been put in place, leaving some farmers subject to both bluetongue and foot and mouth controls.

Bluetongue, which cannot be contracted by humans, affects all ruminants including cattle, goats and deer, and is accompanied by symptoms of fever, excessive salivation and cyanosis of the tongue and lips.

Until the 11 confirmed cases the disease had never been encountered in the UK. It is usually confined to northern Africa and the Mediterranean and is thought to have spread to northern Europe on strong winds.End of story


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