| Old Codger 2008-02-18, 5:25 pm |
| Bluetongue found in four more animals in Northern Ireland
http://uk.reuters.com/article/domes...851864920080218
Mon Feb 18, 2008 11:46am GMT
DUBLIN (Reuters) - Northern Ireland has detected four more cases of
bluetongue after a cow was found with the virus last week, the
province's farm ministry said on Monday.
Northern Ireland's Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development,
Michelle Gildernew, has as a "precaution" ordered the culling of 23
cows and their calves, which were part of an imported herd of cattle
from Europe.
"The cull is being carried out as the latest blood tests on this herd
have detected the presence of antibody or virus in another four calves
born to this group of cattle," the ministry said in a statement on
Monday. "The cull will be completed today."
The ministry said the decision to kill the animals did not mean the
disease was circulating in Northern Ireland.
"At present, the North retains its bluetongue-free disease status," it
said.
The ministry said on Friday it had killed an imported cow from the
Netherlands after it was found to have blue tongue. The animal's calf
was also culled.
This is the first time bluetongue has been found in Northern Ireland
and the ministry said a restriction zone remained around the farm in
North Antrim where the cases had been detected.
The disease causes fever and mouth ulcers and in some cases turns an
animal's tongue blue. It is transmitted by insects and can be highly
dangerous to sheep and cows, although it does not affect humans.
(Reporting by Jonathan Saul; editing by Chris Johnson)
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