Government ups fight against bluetongue (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Government ups fight against bluetongue

8:17am Thursday 8th May 2008

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THE Government has put 13 million more doses of bluetongue vaccine out to tender.

Once the order arrives - which will take several weeks - there will be enough vaccine to cover all of England and a significant proportion of Wales.

Hilary Benn, Environment Secretary, made the announcement on Wednesday. Over 30 million doses will be available to counter the midge-borne virus.

The minister said he was pleased with the "very high demand" for vaccine in the first week of vaccination.

He said: "The farming industry faces a real threat from bluetongue. The best way for farmers to protect their animals and their pockets is to vaccinate all susceptible animals.

"By underwriting a further order for vaccine, I am giving farmers across the whole of England the clearest signal that there will be vaccine available as we roll out the vaccination campaign county by county.

"I want the whole industry to engage with this over the weeks and months ahead."

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