Livestock show cancelled due to bluetongue virus

A livestock show has been cancelled due to the spread of bluetongue virus.

Organisers confirmed that the English Winter Fair, which was due to be held at Staffordshire County Showground on 16 and 17 November, would no longer go ahead.

A statement from the venue said the current restriction zone (RZ) in place was about 10 miles from the county border and 30 from the showground.

But it said the continuing spread of the virus, partly caused by the “unseasonable” mild weather, meant the risk of the zone extending to the showground was “too great”.

“If the showground were to be encompassed within the RZ prior to the show, the event would still not be able to be held as the advice from Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) is the movement of livestock should only be for essential purposes,” the statement added.

“In the final analysis, our main concern is that we would not in any way expose our exhibitors' livestock to the risk of disease, which we believe would be the case if the event were to go ahead.”

Bluetongue virus affects cattle and sheep, causing skin damage, fever and potentially death.

It has been spreading across England in recent weeks, with a case of the disease recently discovered in Shropshire.

The restriction zone put in place by Defra formally restricts the movement of animals to try and prevent the spread of the virus.

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