Bluetongue: 44 further suspected cases in Co Down

While Bluetongue does not have any effect on human health or food safety, it is nevertheless a non-contagious, insect-borne, viral disease that affects ruminants, such as cattle, sheep, goats, deer, llamas and alpacas. File picture.

A further 44 cattle are suspected to have Bluetongue, the preliminary results of testing carried out by DAERA on a Co Down herd have revealed.

The testing was conducted on the farm at Clandeboye Estate, where two suspected cases of Bluetongue virus were recently identified and confirmed as BTV-3.