Defra has announced that the Bluetongue Protection Zone has been extended again with effect from today (Monday 28 July). 

The Protection Zone will be extended to cover Herefordshire, the unitary authority of Telford and Wrekin and the districts in Shropshire (North Shropshire, Shrewsbury and Atcham, South Shropshire and Bridgnorth) previously in the Surveillance Zone.  Extension into the last parts of the Surveillance Zone has been agreed following a review of the vaccine available in the supply chain.

Vaccination is only permitted within the Protection Zone.  This completes the roll-out to the counties previously in the Surveillance Zone and means that no Surveillance Zone remains in England.  The Protection Zone will continue to be expanded and vaccination rolled out to the free area as vaccine is delivered, in line with the vaccination roll-out plan.

Livestock keepers in the areas coming into the Protection Zone are now able to obtain the vaccine.

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.

Overall take up of vaccine in the Protection Zone remains high, although seasonal farming practices may be temporarily dampening some demand.  All livestock farmers are strongly encouraged to be vigilant and to vaccinate at the earliest possible opportunity.