Farmers warned over bluetongue disease

FARMERS were urged not to import animals from any country or region affected by the bluetongue disease.

Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Minister Brendan Smith issued the appeal after Britain confirmed a new strain of the virus was found in five imported animals near Blackpool, Lancashire. He said imports from restricted zones continued to represent a real risk to the entire Irish livestock sector.

“For this reason, I strongly urge farmers here not to import animals from any bluetongue affected country or region so as not to jeopardise our disease free status with its consequences for our entire livestock sector,” he said.