UK authorities have confirmed several new cases of bluetongue. 
The midge (pictured) spreads the bluetongue virus. Global warming means midges can now survive the mild winters in northern Europe
Photo: Institute of Animal Health
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) said that an infected animal had been found near Poole, Dorset, some 100 miles away from the nearest outbreak in southeast England. New cases were also found in East Sussex and Essex.
As a result of these latest outbreaks, DEFRA has set up a new protection zone around the Dorset case, and merged two previously separate protection zones in the southeast. It has also extended the surveillance zone into southwest England and southeast Wales.
All of the infected animals were found during testing that is routinely carried out before moving animals out of restricted zones during the winter months, which the government regards as a vector-free period. DEFRA said the animals were probably infected before the start of the vector-free period in December, and that the infections did not indicate that the bluetongue virus was circulating in the UK.
The department said that further similar cases could be expected in the coming weeks.
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