The bluetongue control zone which has restricted livestock movements in Norfolk and a small part of Suffolk for the last two months will finally be lifted on Monday, animal health officials have said.
Dozens of cases of the potentially-fatal animal disease have been found in cattle and sheep within the 10km Norfolk temporary control zone (TCZ) centred near Cantley, where the county's first case was found on December 8.
The zone enforced movement restrictions and licences which caused disruption and uncertainty for farmers.
Some of those restrictions were eased last week, as the risk of transmission reduced during the colder winter weather, because biting midges which spread the disease are not actively feeding.
Now animal health officials have confirmed the zones in both Norfolk and Kent will be finally lifted from Monday, February 19.
A Defra statement says: "Positive high-risk animals will remain under restriction as well as premises in the zones which have not yet been sampled. APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency) has contacted livestock keepers in the zones to discuss what this means for them.
"Surveillance of susceptible animals and epidemiological assessments will continue. We will keep the situation under review."
Chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss said: “Bluetongue does not pose a threat to human health or food safety, but the disease can affect livestock reducing farm productivity.
"We are now in a seasonally low vector period, when midge activity is much lower and there is reduced risk of disease, meaning we can lift the temporary control zones.
"However, our robust disease surveillance procedures continue, and I urge farmers to remain vigilant and report any suspicions to APHA."
Earlier this week, when Defra confirmed the restrictions would shortly be lifted, National Farmers' Union (NFU) deputy president Tom Bradshaw said: "These farmers have carried the burden and cost to protect the whole industry. [It is] positive news that the majority of restrictions will be lifted by mid-Feb."
Livestock keepers must report suspicions of the virus immediately to the APHA on 03000 200 301.
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