The government is not complacent about bluetongue and will take action against the disease at "a very high level", Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said.
The government is not complacent about bluetongue and will take action against the disease at "a very high level", Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said.
He confirmed there were now 11 cases of the disease and promised the government would do all it could to "contain, control and eradicate" the outbreak.
He confirmed there were now 11 cases of the disease and promised the government would do all it could to "contain, control and eradicate" the outbreak.
Praising farmers for their resilience, he promised help for those affected.
Praising farmers for their resilience, he promised help for those affected.
The government earlier said there would be no compensation for farmers whose livestock were hit by the disease.
The government earlier said there would be no compensation for farmers whose livestock were hit by the disease.
Mr Brown said Environment Secretary Hilary Benn will be consulting with the farming industry over coming days on the financial implications of the outbreak, and will look at what actions the European Commission can take to help.
Mr Brown said Environment Secretary Hilary Benn will be consulting with the farming industry over coming days on the financial implications of the outbreak, and will look at what actions the European Commission can take to help.
Confusion
He said Mr Benn would make a statement about what the government could do to relax regulatory requirements on the farming industry to make things easier for them.
He said Mr Benn would make a statement about what the government could do to relax regulatory requirements on the farming industry to make things easier for them.
Rachel Carrington, of the National Farmers Union in East Anglia, said there were "a number" of potential bluetongue cases being investigated, and "unconfirmed cases" in Norfolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire and the East Midlands.
Rachel Carrington, of the National Farmers Union in East Anglia, said there were "a number" of potential bluetongue cases being investigated, and "unconfirmed cases" in Norfolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire and the East Midlands.
She said the outbreak had left farmers confused. "We desperately need things clarifying so we can tell people what they can and can't do. We need a detailed map of the movement restriction boundaries.
She said the outbreak had left farmers confused. "We desperately need things clarifying so we can tell people what they can and can't do. We need a detailed map of the movement restriction boundaries.
Unless we do have that very severe winter it is likely, given the Northern European experience, that the disease will re-emerge next year Deputy chief vet Fred Landeg
"Economically, things are very difficult for farmers. On top of foot-and-mouth, bluetongue is just another layer of pressure on them."
"Economically, things are very difficult for farmers. On top of foot-and-mouth, bluetongue is just another layer of pressure on them."
Mr Brown also announced that a 24-hour phone and internet service had been set up to keep farmers up-to-date on the latest developments.
Mr Brown also announced that a 24-hour phone and internet service had been set up to keep farmers up-to-date on the latest developments.
Deputy chief vet Fred Landeg acknowledged movement controls would cost the industry tens of millions of pounds.
Deputy chief vet Fred Landeg acknowledged movement controls would cost the industry tens of millions of pounds.
But he said there would be no compensation payments because no more culling would take place.
But he said there would be no compensation payments because no more culling would take place.
'Bitter blow'
Peter Kendall, president of the National Farmers Union, said the virus was a "bitter blow" to the countryside.
Peter Kendall, president of the National Farmers Union, said the virus was a "bitter blow" to the countryside.
A protection zone has been set up in Suffolk after government vets confirmed bluetongue disease was circulating in the UK and was classed as an outbreak.
A protection zone has been set up in Suffolk after government vets confirmed bluetongue disease was circulating in the UK and was classed as an outbreak.
Eleven cases have so far been detected.
Eleven cases have so far been detected.
The zone will be a minimum of 150km (93 miles) around infected premises.
The zone will be a minimum of 150km (93 miles) around infected premises.
A stricter 20km control zone has also been set up around the known bluetongue cases, with restrictions preventing animals being moved out of both zones.
A stricter 20km control zone has also been set up around the known bluetongue cases, with restrictions preventing animals being moved out of both zones.
European spread
Mr Landeg said test results had shown the disease was being transmitted by biting midges "rather than animal to animal".
Mr Landeg said test results had shown the disease was being transmitted by biting midges "rather than animal to animal".
This meant a cull would not help stamp it out, he said.
This meant a cull would not help stamp it out, he said.
Unless we do have that very severe winter it is likely, given the Northern European experience, that the disease will re-emerge next year Deputy chief vet Fred Landeg
A protection zone has been set up in Suffolk
There have been nearly 3,000 cases of bluetongue in northern Europe - including the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany - since July, which had fuelled fears of its arrival in the UK.
There have been nearly 3,000 cases of bluetongue in northern Europe - including the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany - since July, which had fuelled fears of its arrival in the UK.
Mr Landeg said the aim now was to "contain the disease to that part of the country where we have these confirmed cases", but he warned that bluetongue was a very different disease to control to foot-and-mouth.
Mr Landeg said the aim now was to "contain the disease to that part of the country where we have these confirmed cases", but he warned that bluetongue was a very different disease to control to foot-and-mouth.
A cold winter could help eradicate the virus, but he warned that it was likely there would be a "large" number of cases before then, and that it could return afterwards.
A cold winter could help eradicate the virus, but he warned that it was likely there would be a "large" number of cases before then, and that it could return afterwards.
"Unless we do have that very severe winter it is likely, given the northern European experience, that the disease will re-emerge next year."
"Unless we do have that very severe winter it is likely, given the northern European experience, that the disease will re-emerge next year."
There was currently no available vaccine for this strain of the virus, but it did not "pose any risk to human health", he said.
There was currently no available vaccine for this strain of the virus, but it did not "pose any risk to human health", he said.
Impact
Impact
Farmers within the 20km control zones placed around infected premises will not be permitted to transport livestock out of the area, unless for slaughter within the wider protection zone.
Farmers within the 20km control zones placed around infected premises will not be permitted to transport livestock out of the area, unless for slaughter within the wider protection zone.
Livestock owners within the protection zone will be allowed to move animals only within its boundaries.
Livestock owners within the protection zone will be allowed to move animals only within its boundaries.
It's really a case of... applying some sort of fly repellent to the animals, and then hoping for a vaccine to be developed sooner rather than later Ben WoolfCattle farmer
It's really a case of... applying some sort of fly repellent to the animals, and then hoping for a vaccine to be developed sooner rather than later Ben WoolfCattle farmer
Mr Benn acknowledged that the situation was "very bad news for farmers".
Mr Benn acknowledged that the situation was "very bad news for farmers".
He added: "We are determined to continue to work closely with the farming industry and the farmers affected for whom this is a very difficult time."
He added: "We are determined to continue to work closely with the farming industry and the farmers affected for whom this is a very difficult time."
Ben Woolf, a cattle farmer from the affected area in Suffolk, told BBC News 24 he expected the economic effect to be similar to that of foot-and-mouth, but over a longer period.
Ben Woolf, a cattle farmer from the affected area in Suffolk, told BBC News 24 he expected the economic effect to be similar to that of foot-and-mouth, but over a longer period.
"At the moment it's really a case of possibly applying some sort of fly repellent to the animals, and then hoping for a vaccine to be developed sooner rather than later," he said.
"At the moment it's really a case of possibly applying some sort of fly repellent to the animals, and then hoping for a vaccine to be developed sooner rather than later," he said.
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