China suspends imports of Irish beef due to bluetongue outbreak in Co. Wexford

China has suspended imports of Irish beef following the detection of an outbreak of bluetongue in Co Wexford last week, while more cases of the virus have been confirmed in three additional cattle herds in the county.

Today the department has also confirmed that following testing, bluetongue has been detected in three additional herds in Co Wexford, all of which are located nearby the first herd in which the disease was found.

In the first herd seven cattle have been identified as having been infected, while in the three additional herds two had one infected bovine and one had two infected bovines.The department said surveillance in the area is continuing, with additional results due in the coming days.

Bluetongue is an animal disease that can cause severe illness in livestock, such as cattle and sheep, but also in goats, deer and llamas.It does not pose any risk to human health or food safety.

However, it will affect live exports of cattle and sheep to some countries outside of the EU that require Ireland to have a disease free status requirement.This will see such live exports to smaller markets such as the UAE suspended for 12 months.

Bluetongue is not contagious and is primarily transmitted through midges.A midge that bites an infected animal will spread it to the next animal it bites, but the virus cannot replicate in a midge at temperatures below 12 degrees Celsius. As a result, officials are hopeful that the recent drop in temperatures will mean the infection is unlikely to spread widely.