Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has announced that Defra is to
issue a tender to animal health companies Merial, Fort Dodge and Intervet for a Bluetongue vaccine bank. The tender will be for between 10 and 20 million doses, subject to an assessment of the anticipated demand from farmers. It is to cover England only.
No suitable vaccine is currently available for the strain of Bluetongue circulating here (serotype 8). However, the listed companies do have vaccines in development and these are expected to be available “from next summer”.
As at November 1st Defra had confirmed 60 premises with cases of Bluetongue with another 12 cases under investigation.
Posted in EFRC, News and events
