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| Disappointment over virus vaccine | Disappointment over virus vaccine |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Take-up of the bluetongue vaccine by Welsh farmers to protect cattle is "hugely disappointing," says Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones. | Take-up of the bluetongue vaccine by Welsh farmers to protect cattle is "hugely disappointing," says Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones. |
| But the minister said she was not considering making the vaccination compulsory. | But the minister said she was not considering making the vaccination compulsory. |
| Tests on seven imported cattle in north Wales are being carried out again. | Tests on seven imported cattle in north Wales are being carried out again. |
| Earlier this week, two Limousin bulls, brought in from the Limoges area of France, tested positive for the type 8 virus. | |
| A third cow is being tested for the disease, which is spread by midges and cannot be passed to humans. | A third cow is being tested for the disease, which is spread by midges and cannot be passed to humans. |
| Ms Jones told BBC Wales: "The take-up is hugely disappointing and of course the responsibility lies with the farmers to vaccinate the animals. | Ms Jones told BBC Wales: "The take-up is hugely disappointing and of course the responsibility lies with the farmers to vaccinate the animals. |
| "We have urged, the farming unions have urged and others have urged for the vaccine to be taken up by the farmers and that is the priority if farmers are to keep their livestock free of this disease." | "We have urged, the farming unions have urged and others have urged for the vaccine to be taken up by the farmers and that is the priority if farmers are to keep their livestock free of this disease." |
| The virus is transmitted by a small number of species of biting midges and bluetongue is most common in late summer and autumn when the midge population is at its peak. My message continues to be - vaccinate now Christianne Glossop, chief veterinary officer | The virus is transmitted by a small number of species of biting midges and bluetongue is most common in late summer and autumn when the midge population is at its peak. My message continues to be - vaccinate now Christianne Glossop, chief veterinary officer |
| Wales' chief veterinary officer Christianne Glossop said making vaccination compulsory was "possible" but urged farmers to take responsibility for their livestock. | Wales' chief veterinary officer Christianne Glossop said making vaccination compulsory was "possible" but urged farmers to take responsibility for their livestock. |
| She said: "I think it's very obvious that because of these cases people should be vaccinating. | She said: "I think it's very obvious that because of these cases people should be vaccinating. |
| "It's not a question of whether it should be compulsory or not - famers should be recognising that there is a risk in north Wales right now and they should be doing what they can to protect their stock." Ms Glossop said talks would be taking place with the farmer to find out what had been happening with his stock. | |
| "My advice would be that people should vaccinate their stock today and they should consider carefully whether importations are really necessary to our industry," she said. | "My advice would be that people should vaccinate their stock today and they should consider carefully whether importations are really necessary to our industry," she said. |
| Asked whether farmers in the Ruthin area should be worried, Ms Glossop said farmers throughout Wales should be concerned. | Asked whether farmers in the Ruthin area should be worried, Ms Glossop said farmers throughout Wales should be concerned. |
| "Farmers throughout Wales should be worried - this is the first time we have evidence of infected animals since we have rolled out the protection zone. | "Farmers throughout Wales should be worried - this is the first time we have evidence of infected animals since we have rolled out the protection zone. |
| "Obviously the closer to this outbreak the more worried people should be and I would suggest those farmers contact their vets today and order the vaccine," she said. | "Obviously the closer to this outbreak the more worried people should be and I would suggest those farmers contact their vets today and order the vaccine," she said. |
| The bluetongue virus can affect sheep and cows, but not horses or pigs | The bluetongue virus can affect sheep and cows, but not horses or pigs |
| Earlier this month a bluetongue protection zone was extended to cover the whole of Wales after cases of the disease were found in Devon. | Earlier this month a bluetongue protection zone was extended to cover the whole of Wales after cases of the disease were found in Devon. |
| Ed Bailey, vice-president of NFU Cymru said: "It's just a great pity that farmers in Wales feel it necessary to import cattle into the country when we produce some of the best cattle in the world anyway - or sheep for that matter. | Ed Bailey, vice-president of NFU Cymru said: "It's just a great pity that farmers in Wales feel it necessary to import cattle into the country when we produce some of the best cattle in the world anyway - or sheep for that matter. |
| "And it seems to be although it's not illegal you know one has to think of the moral aspect of bringing infected stock into a country and the possibility of affecting other people's livelihoods because, of course, their livestock is their livelihood. | "And it seems to be although it's not illegal you know one has to think of the moral aspect of bringing infected stock into a country and the possibility of affecting other people's livelihoods because, of course, their livestock is their livelihood. |
| "These days of course we have to carry our stock off the farms and that's an extra cost as well. | "These days of course we have to carry our stock off the farms and that's an extra cost as well. |
| "In some cases incurring up to £20 a head to carry dead stock from the farm and that's an extra cost other than the initial losses of the lambs and the loss of condition on the ewes," he said. | "In some cases incurring up to £20 a head to carry dead stock from the farm and that's an extra cost other than the initial losses of the lambs and the loss of condition on the ewes," he said. |
| September is the highest risk period for the disease which is spread by midges and can be fatal to cows and sheep. | September is the highest risk period for the disease which is spread by midges and can be fatal to cows and sheep. |
| Under European livestock rules, once an area has been designated a protected zone vaccinations can be issued. | Under European livestock rules, once an area has been designated a protected zone vaccinations can be issued. |
| It cannot be passed to humans. | It cannot be passed to humans. |
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