In September bluetongue was detected in British livestock.
The signs of bluetongue in sheep are;
- Eye and nasal discharges.
- Drooling as a result of ulcers in the mouth.
- High body temperature.
- Swelling of the mouth, head and neck.
- Lameness.
- Tiredness.
- Fever.
- Haemorrhages into or under the skin.
- Inflammation at the junction of the skin and the horn of the foot.
- Respiratory problems – difficulty with breathing and nasal discharge.
- A blue tongue is rarely a clinical sign of infection.
- Deaths of sheep in a flock may reach as high as 70 per cent.
- Animals that survive the disease can lose condition with a reduction in meat and wool production.
Source Defra.
For more detailed information visit the Defra website.