Collooney vet issue warning around Bluetongue spread

A Collooney based vet is urging farmers that may have recently purchased livestock in Northern Ireland to be vigilant that their animals are not displaying any symptoms associated with the Bluetongue disease.A suspected outbreak was recently discovered in two cows on a holding near Bangor, Co Down.Officials in Stormont's Agriculture Department are understood to be liaising with colleagues in the Republic of Ireland to help stop the spread of the condition.Bluetongue is primarily transmitted through biting midges and affects cattle and sheep as well as goats, and deer.Eddie Henry form Teeling Vets says that while it does not have implications for human health, it can have serious consequences for livestock and productivity in the agri sector: