The Blue Tongue virus reached these shores less than a year ago, although had been prevalent in neighbouring continental European countries for a few years.

Since its arrival in Britain it was expected to spread relatively quickly among sheep and cattle herds, but due to a combination of luck, the weather and science, only 142 cases have so far been reported, compared with an epidemic elsewhere in Europe.

It is claimed that one of the factors which has so far suppressed the spread of the virus has been the poor weather this summer.

Blue Tongue is spread by mosquitoes, which spread the disease by biting an infected animal and passing it to a healthy animal.

The disease does not spread directly between animals.

The weather this summer has been characterised by westerly winds, which crucially come across the Atlantic and not from the Continent, keeping mosquito numbers in check and helping reduce the spread of the virus.

While this has been a contributing factor, the main reason for the relatively lucky escape has been the instigation of the largest vaccination programme for livestock now taking place in the UK.

More than 22 million vaccines have been administered, which is remarkable considering that the vaccine didn't even exist two years ago.

As the vaccine is being administered to more animals, the UK government is increasing the size of the "Blue Tongue Protection Zone".

However, it cannot block further imports of animals from the Continent and the most recent cases, one of which was in Lewes, were both imported animals.


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