Livestock disease found on 74 farms in England

The disease can cause birth defects and miscarriages in livestock and was first discovered in Germany last year and has killed thousands of lambs on the continent already.

A spokesman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: “As everyone connected with the livestock industry has been expecting, the number of cases of Schmallenberg has increased as lambing and calving begin to gather pace.

“Schmallenberg has been identified in the south, south west and east of England, and we suspect livestock got the virus from infected midges blown across the Channel from affected areas in Europe.

“As farmers, vets, and governments continue to gather information about the progress and effects of this disease, it’s vital that farmers continue to report any suspicions they have as soon as possible.

“The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control says it is unlikely the Schmallenberg virus would cause disease in humans.”

The Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) has identified cases in on the Isle of Wight and in Wiltshire, West Berkshire and Gloucestershire.

This is in addition to the counties in the east and south of England which have previously had cases identified, namely Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Kent, East and West Sussex, Hertfordshire, Surrey, Hampshire and Cornwall.

Five of the positive cases have been diagnosed in cattle, 69 in sheep, and none to date in other species. So far, none of the affected farms have reported importing animals during 2011 from the affected areas in mainland Europe.

Defra urges farmers to remain vigilant and report any suspicious cases to the AHVLA for testing, and says there is a low likelihood of risk to the public health.

The Schmallenberg virus, named after the town in Germany where it was first emerged just last November, has now spread throughout Germany affecting 737 sheep, cattle and goat farms.