Nadine Seeks Assurances From DEFRA On Surveillance For Bluetongue Virus In Bedfordshire
Posted by Nadine Dorries, MP for Mid Bedfordshire, at 15:02, Tue 25 September 2007:
Today I have written to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Rt Hon Hilary Benn - seeking assurances as to what moves are being put in place to contain the bluetongue virus.
Yesterday (Monday 24th September 2007) farmers in Bedfordshire were put on alert by DEFRA, after the county was one of several in England designated as part of the temporary extended surveillance zone for the bluetongue virus.
The discovery of a second cow, which has tested positive for the bluetongue disease at a farm in Suffolk, will cause concern for many farmers in Bedfordshire who are worried about the potential spread of the disease.
Although Bedfordshire may have been designated as part of the temporary extended surveillance zone of the disease, it is too early to say whether this is an outbreak of the disease. Isolated cases could be caused by midges or insects that have travelled here from mainland Europe. I have written to the Secretary of State for DEFRA seeking assurances as to what moves the government are putting in place to combat the disease and what extra support and advice will be given to farmers in Bedfordshire.
It is vitally important that all necessary steps are put in place to ensure the disease does not spread any further. The same strain of the disease wiped out entire herds in northern Europe with many cases since July of this year.
If you have any thoughts or views on this, or any other issues then please get in contact with me in the usual way.
Write to me at: Nadine Dorries MP House of Commons London SW1A 0AA
Telephone me on: 020 7219 4239
Fax me on: 020 7219 6428
Email me at: dorriesn@parliament.uk
Visit my website at: www.dorries.org.uk
Nadine
Nadine Dorries MP Member of Parliament for Mid-Bedfordshire.
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