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| Bluetongue cases increase to 24 | Bluetongue cases increase to 24 |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The number of confirmed cases of bluetongue disease has risen to 24, the government has said. | The number of confirmed cases of bluetongue disease has risen to 24, the government has said. |
| All of the cases are within the existing control zone in East Anglia, a Defra spokeswoman confirmed. | All of the cases are within the existing control zone in East Anglia, a Defra spokeswoman confirmed. |
| The total has risen from 11 cases on Saturday and includes a cluster around a rare breeds farm near Ipswich. | The total has risen from 11 cases on Saturday and includes a cluster around a rare breeds farm near Ipswich. |
| Meanwhile, rules restricting lorry drivers' hours are to be relaxed to help reduce the backlog of animals awaiting transportation to market. | Meanwhile, rules restricting lorry drivers' hours are to be relaxed to help reduce the backlog of animals awaiting transportation to market. |
| On Tuesday, the number of bluetongue cases was 19, and the figure rose to 24 on Wednesday. | On Tuesday, the number of bluetongue cases was 19, and the figure rose to 24 on Wednesday. |
| The majority are in Suffolk, with a cluster around Ipswich and another case near to Lowestoft. | The majority are in Suffolk, with a cluster around Ipswich and another case near to Lowestoft. |
| A Defra spokeswomen said there had also been a small number of cases found just across the border in Essex. | A Defra spokeswomen said there had also been a small number of cases found just across the border in Essex. |
| Control zone | Control zone |
| Government vets confirmed last Friday that bluetongue disease was circulating in the UK and was now classed as an outbreak. | Government vets confirmed last Friday that bluetongue disease was circulating in the UK and was now classed as an outbreak. |
| This is not a decision that has been taken lightly and it will be carefully monitored Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly Foot-and-mouth zone lifted | This is not a decision that has been taken lightly and it will be carefully monitored Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly Foot-and-mouth zone lifted |
| A 20km control zone was imposed in Suffolk around affected farms, and outside that, a 150km protection zone was put in place. | A 20km control zone was imposed in Suffolk around affected farms, and outside that, a 150km protection zone was put in place. |
| Farmers within the 20km control zone are not permitted to transport livestock out of the area, unless for slaughter within the wider protection zone. | Farmers within the 20km control zone are not permitted to transport livestock out of the area, unless for slaughter within the wider protection zone. |
| Livestock owners within the protection zone are allowed to move animals only within its boundaries. | Livestock owners within the protection zone are allowed to move animals only within its boundaries. |
| The disease is transmitted by biting midges and the symptoms, which are most severe in sheep, include swelling and haemorrhaging in and around the mouth and nose. | The disease is transmitted by biting midges and the symptoms, which are most severe in sheep, include swelling and haemorrhaging in and around the mouth and nose. |
| Foot-and-mouth | Foot-and-mouth |
| Restrictions imposed following the outbreak of foot-and-mouth are set to ease from 4 October, providing the disease situation does not change. | Restrictions imposed following the outbreak of foot-and-mouth are set to ease from 4 October, providing the disease situation does not change. |
| Transport of cattle, sheep and goats to market will be permitted, bringing some relief to farmers across Britain who have warned that movement restrictions could ruin them financially. | Transport of cattle, sheep and goats to market will be permitted, bringing some relief to farmers across Britain who have warned that movement restrictions could ruin them financially. |
| And the Department for Transport (DfT) said the daily driving limit for lorries would rise from nine hours to 10 in areas of low disease risk from that date to help clear the backlog. | And the Department for Transport (DfT) said the daily driving limit for lorries would rise from nine hours to 10 in areas of low disease risk from that date to help clear the backlog. |
| Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly said the changes were being introduced at an important time of year for farmers' livelihoods, adding: "This will help minimise the impact of foot-and-mouth on the rural economy, as well as protect animal welfare." | Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly said the changes were being introduced at an important time of year for farmers' livelihoods, adding: "This will help minimise the impact of foot-and-mouth on the rural economy, as well as protect animal welfare." |
| Rules governing drivers hours will be relaxed for a month throughout Scotland and Wales as well as all areas of England which lie in the foot-and-mouth low-risk zone. | Rules governing drivers hours will be relaxed for a month throughout Scotland and Wales as well as all areas of England which lie in the foot-and-mouth low-risk zone. |
| Ms Kelly said: "Tiredness is an important road safety issue and rules ensuring hauliers take proper breaks and work sensible hours protect all road users. | Ms Kelly said: "Tiredness is an important road safety issue and rules ensuring hauliers take proper breaks and work sensible hours protect all road users. |
| "Therefore, this is not a decision that has been taken lightly and it will be carefully monitored." | "Therefore, this is not a decision that has been taken lightly and it will be carefully monitored." |
| 'Exceptional circumstances' | 'Exceptional circumstances' |
| The DfT said drivers' mandatory weekly rest periods would be reduced from 45 hours to 24 and there would be no weekly or fortnightly driving time limits. | The DfT said drivers' mandatory weekly rest periods would be reduced from 45 hours to 24 and there would be no weekly or fortnightly driving time limits. |
| Drivers are also subject to EU working time legislation which restricts their total hours at work, not just those spent driving. | Drivers are also subject to EU working time legislation which restricts their total hours at work, not just those spent driving. |
| BLUETONGUE IN CATTLE DroolingSwelling of the head and neckConjunctivitisSwelling of the mouthSwollen teatsTiredness Q&A: Bluetongue disease | |
| The DfT is temporarily increasing this limit from 60 hours to 66. | The DfT is temporarily increasing this limit from 60 hours to 66. |
| There will be no change to the requirements for daily rest and breaks. | There will be no change to the requirements for daily rest and breaks. |
| A spokesman for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said: "These are exceptional circumstances and we hope that employers will still try to ensure their drivers stay within the existing rules if possible. | A spokesman for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said: "These are exceptional circumstances and we hope that employers will still try to ensure their drivers stay within the existing rules if possible. |
| "Where drivers are having to work longer hours than normal, it is important that these are kept to a minimum in the interests of the safety of everyone on the roads." | "Where drivers are having to work longer hours than normal, it is important that these are kept to a minimum in the interests of the safety of everyone on the roads." |
| 'Crisis' | 'Crisis' |
| Earlier, ministers in Scotland welcomed the move, saying thousands of sheep could have starved on the Scottish hills without it. | Earlier, ministers in Scotland welcomed the move, saying thousands of sheep could have starved on the Scottish hills without it. |
| Scottish Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said: "At long last, the UK government has recognised the scale of the crisis facing Scotland's livestock sector and the need for hauliers to have this concession to allow them to get moving again and deal with the backlog of livestock." | Scottish Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said: "At long last, the UK government has recognised the scale of the crisis facing Scotland's livestock sector and the need for hauliers to have this concession to allow them to get moving again and deal with the backlog of livestock." |
| The foot-and-mouth risk area covers Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire, Berkshire, Surrey, Hampshire and West Sussex. | The foot-and-mouth risk area covers Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire, Berkshire, Surrey, Hampshire and West Sussex. |
| The bluetongue control zone currently comprises parts of Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire. | The bluetongue control zone currently comprises parts of Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire. |