Defra and the devolved administrations have approved a further Bluetongue surveillance exercise this winter.
The survey will take place across the whole of Great Britian, starting on November 1 and running for approximately one month. It is hoped that it will allow a clearer picture of the BTV8 disease situation and help to detect any potential undetected incursion of new serotypes.
Animal Health and the Veterinary Laboratories Agency will test for all Bluetongue serotypes, including BTV1 which is currently circulating in France.
You will be told soon if your herd has been selected.
The results will be used to plan policy. Should they show that there is no circulating virus, it will also take Defra one step closer to being able to officially declare freedom from the disease in the future.
Read a Q&A about the winter programme here.
Click here for further Bluetongue news from the NFU.
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