Devon farmer ‘felt so alone’ when her sheep got bluetongue

A farmer has described feeling “so alone” when her sheep started to fall ill with suspected bluetongue.

Latest government figures show 92 positive bluetongue cases in England to the end of July this year, with the majority in cows and sheep in south-west England and farmers fearing there will be more.

Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin, who farms in Torridge, Devon, said “we didn’t know what was going on” at first and “we put it down to the heat and the heatwave and thought that was why the animals were being a bit lethargic”.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency urged livestock owners to remain vigilant and report any suspicion of cases, and also vaccinate animals.

The virus affects sheep, cattle, deer, goats, llamas and alpacas, according to the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), and can rarely affect dogs and other carnivores if they eat infected material such as afterbirth.

It did not affect people or food safety, Defra said, but outbreaks could result in prolonged animal movement and trade restrictions.

In sheep, symptoms include ulcers or sores in the mouth and nose, discharge from the eyes or nose, and swelling of the lips, tongue, head and neck.

Symptoms for cows include: lethargy, crusty erosions around the nostrils and muzzle, redness of the mouth, eyes, nose, milk drop and abortions, Defra said.

A llama in Devon was also one of the cases recorded, Defra added, as well as sheep and cows in Devon and Cornwall.