Devon councillor calls for urgent government action on bluetongue outbreak
Councillor urges ministers to support struggling farmers and speed up vaccine response
A Devon councillor is calling on the government and MPs across the South West to take the growing bluetongue outbreak more seriously, warning that the virus poses a major threat to livestock and rural communities.
Cllr Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin, Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs at Devon County Council, has written to the Environment Secretary and copied in all South West MPs.
In her letter, she urges immediate and coordinated action to support farmers affected by the disease, which continues to spread across the region.
Bluetongue is a viral disease spread by biting midges that affects sheep, cattle and other livestock.
While it does not affect humans, outbreaks can lead to serious animal health problems, restrictions on livestock movement, and heavy financial losses for farmers.
Cllr Cottle-Hunkin is calling for a range of measures, including better financial and practical support for struggling farmers, clearer and more timely communication about the scale of the outbreak, and urgent progress on vaccine approval and supply.
She has also asked for government backing to help with the costs of carcass disposal and disease management.
“This needs to be recognised as a national issue,” she says. “Bluetongue and other diseases linked to climate change are becoming more common, and we need a long-term plan to protect our farmers and rural businesses.”
She also highlights the importance of clear information for both the public and those in the farming sector, and warns that delays and confusion could make the situation worse for farmers already under pressure.
The councillor’s plea follows rising concern from the farming community, with calls for more decisive government action to help protect livestock and secure the future of rural jobs and businesses.
Cllr Cottle-Hunkin says she will continue to press ministers for urgent support and a clear strategy to tackle bluetongue and other emerging animal health threats.