Bluetongue Disease: Disease Control

Lembit Öpik
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures are in place to prevent the insect-related spread of bluetongue.

Jonathan Shaw
DEFRA has been working in close partnership with the industry and stakeholders to develop the Bluetongue Control Strategy and has jointly been involved in raising awareness of this disease. It is our main objective to minimise the economic impact and spread of the disease.

The control measures set out in the Bluetongue Control Strategy are aimed at minimising disease spread. Movement of susceptible animals out of the control zones are banned except under licence (although animals can move freely within these zones).

DEFRA currently funds an extensive programme of research on bluetongue (including work on serotype 8) that supports disease control policies. This includes researching vector mitigation measures which may help protect animals against midges biting.

More information and guidance can be found on the DEFRA website, which is regularly updated with the latest developments and progress.