THREAT OF BLUETONGUE IN WALES RISING

WELSH farmers'' leader Gareth Vaughan today warned that the threat of Bluetongue breaking out in Wales is higher than ever before following confirmation that six cattle near the Welsh border had tested positive for the disease.

"This is a deeply concerning development and we also understand that five animals imported from the Continent are currently being tested on a number of holdings in North Wales," said the Farmers'' Union of Wales president.

Mr Vaughan was speaking at the World Sheepdog Trials in Llandeilo after Defra revealed six cattle imported from the Continent to Bromyard, near Worcester - some 25 miles from the Welsh border - had tested positive for BTV8.

This brings the total number of UK holdings with confirmed outbreaks to 145.

"As BTV8 is now endemic on much of the Continent, and BTV1 and other strains are present in large areas in southern Europe, this represents a significant risk for Wales," said Mr Vaughan.

"I once again urge farmers to vaccinate their animals because this is the only insurance against avoiding the catastrophic effects that can affect livestock."

Mr Vaughan further warned of the dangers of listening to gossip and rumours about the vaccine. "The manufacturing process for BTV8 vaccine is essentially identical to the process used to make BTV2 and BTV4 vaccine in the past four years.

"Since 2004 around 100 million doses of BTV2, BTV4 and BTV8 vaccines have been used and the number of reports of adverse reactions to those doses have so far been the same as for any other vaccine."