Bluetongue vaccines for sheep and cattle are now available across Britain, with supplies approved for use in vet practices.

The disease affects all ruminants, but particularly cattle and sheep. It poses no threat to human health and does not affect meat, milk or other animal products.

Government Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer Simon Hall urged livestock farmers to be vigilant for any signs of the disease.

“It’s fantastic news that the vaccine is now available. This is the perfect time to talk to your vet as the vaccine is the only effective tool to prevent illness,” he said.

Restriction zones

The vaccination has to be given by injection twice (three weeks apart) in cattle and sheep, so it can take up to six weeks for the animal to be fully immune. Two companies, Zoetis and MSD, have announced that they are making a vaccine available in the UK.

Zoetis’s Zulvac 8 Bovis and Ovis vaccines are now available, with MSD Animal Health set to deliver its Bluevac BTV8, a single vaccine for both sheep and cattle, in the coming days.

Restriction zones are already in place in France, to control the spread of the disease and similar measures such as movement restrictions would be introduced put in place along with the disease control strategies if the disease was found in the UK.

Farmers and vets who suspect bluetongue must report it immediately to the Animal and Plant Health Agency.