London has been placed in a control zone for disease potentially fatal to animals from spreading.

The Bluetongue Virus zone was put into place on September 21, 2024, and covers all of London.

UK Chief Veterinary Officer has declared the bluetongue restricted zone to “mitigate the risk of further cases of the disease occurring”.

According to the government website, Bluetongue virus is mainly transmitted by midge bites and it affects cattle, goats, sheep, deer and camelids such as llamas and alpacas.

The impact the virus has on animals varies greatly and some animals show no clinical signs or effects at all.

For others though, it can cause productivity issues such as reduced milk yield.

In the most severe cases, the virus can be fatal for infected animals.

Bluetongue Virus does not affect people and the meat and milk from infected animals is safe to eat and drink.

Keepers of cattle, sheep or other ruminants and camelids in the disease hotspots will now have to follow strict restriction on animal and germinal product movements.

These restrictions can be found on the government website.

All infected premises now have to be placed under restriction sand susceptible animals can only be moved under license from infected premises.

The government website has confirmed that surveillance is underway to understand if the virus is circulating in the UK and the extent of any undisclosed disease.

There have been a rising number of the cases across Europe and the Chief Veterinary Officer called for increased vigilance and responsible sourcing of livestock.