Wildlife UK Forum - Discuss the UK countryside and wildlife

Just when it all goes quiet for a while, another case of Blue Tongue disease has been found in Greater London, and a 20km protection zone has been set up. All of the new cases are thought to be infected before the start of December when the last outbreak started, but I don't think they can know that for sure. All the cases so far have been in the SE.

I don't really know the full implications of this, and whether it is going to affect farmers greatly. If they were infected before the control measures were put in place then I suppose there isn't much more to worry about, but if they are newly infected obviously the control measures aren't working and they could be in trouble!

OH no thats near me! Where abouts exactly are the affected areas?

I hadn't heard this; fingers crossed that it is related to the last reported outbreak and not a new one. Unfortunately, the exceptionally mild winter may mean that Blue Tongue may be an even bigger threat this year.

Oh yeah, you could be right there Timberwolf. Oh no!!!!!!!!!!

What are the implication to wildlife? If its just in Cows then i suppose it is the farmers that will suffer not other countryside users? I don't imagine its on the same scale as another foot and mouth outbreak.

I think it can only really affect farmers, although I could be wrong. I've just read that April will be when farmers cattle will be at most threat again, as the bugs that spread the disease become active around mid March.

So can we assume from that that this was definitely not a new case in the winter? That's good news I suppose.

I did see on the Welsh local news over the weekend that cattle movement restrictions had been put in place which affected most of the Vale of Glamorgan because of another Bluetongue outbreak. I don't think it was anywhere close to here though, the Vale came just within the restriction zone.