FARMERS in West Berkshire are being urged to vaccinate their livestock against a lethal animal disease.
The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has placed an extra order for eight million doses of Bluetongue vaccines.
Animal health company Merial will provide the Bluetongue serotype 8 vaccine, which helps protect animals against the disease which has wreaked havoc on the livestock industry since the first ever UK outbreak last year in Suffolk.
The virus is spread by Bluetongue-carrying midges, which usually travel around two miles per day but can be propelled up to 100 miles in strong winds.
It affects cattle, goats, deer and sheep and can kill an animal within five to ten days.
A protection zone against the disease was extended to West Berkshire in May as one million doses of the vaccine were distributed to veterinary practices across the Royal County, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, West Sussex and Lincolnshire.
Chief Veterinary Officer, Nigel Gibbens said: “I am pleased with the very high demand for vaccine so far. However, as we progress over the summer the likelihood of disease re-emergence increases. We urge the industry to remain vigilant, and encourage farmers to place orders with their private vet as soon as possible.”
Merial anticipate delivering the vaccine in regular batches over the summer and with Defra’s existing contract with another animal health company, Intervet, the department believes sufficient doses will be available for the vaccination to be rolled out by September.
Vaccination is only permitted in the protection zone, which will be expanded county by county across England.
Animals can be moved out of the zone if they are vaccinated, naturally immune, or for slaughter, subject to certain conditions.