Minister McIlveen urged farmers to avoid importing potentially bluetongue-infected livestock as outbreaks of the disease continue across continental Europe. In France, 304 outbreaks have been reported since August last year, according to the World Organisation for Animal Health.

The British government has said there is a high risk of an outbreak of the disease in the UK by the end of the summer. This is due to rising temperatures leading to increased circulation of midges, which spread the disease. Infected midges could be carried in the wind from France, so risk of a UK outbreak is highest in the south of England.

“The main risk to Northern Ireland continues to be the import of infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova), particularly in light of the spread of the disease on the continent,” Minister McIlveen said.

She added that if imported animals are found to be infected with bluetongue, they will be slaughtered with no compensation paid out.

Last week it was announced that a vaccine for bluetongue (BTV-8) is to be made available to farmers in Britain from mid-July. Vaccination for bluetongue is currently prohibited in Northern Ireland unless DAERA authorises it in the event of an outbreak. In Britain, voluntary vaccination has been allowed since 2012.

News in-brief from Northern Ireland

Main bluetongue risk in NI is still from imports

The main risk of a bluetongue outbreak in Northern Ireland continues to be from imports of infected livestock, agriculture Minister Michelle McIlveen has said.