Written question asked by Martyn Jones (Labour) on Wednesday, 11 March 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 1 April 2009. It was answered by Jane Kennedy (Labour) on Wednesday, 1 April 2009 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Bluetongue Disease: Vaccination

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he plans to take to take to increase awareness of (a) bluetongue and (b) the bluetongue vaccination in the farming community.

Answer: DEFRA raises awareness of Bluetongue disease, and the benefits of vaccination against it, through the regularly updated Bluetongue web pages and through its ongoing communications to livestock keepers through livestock market road shows, Farming Link magazine and through the support it offers to the industry-led Joint campaign Against Bluetongue (JAB).The agreed approach of the awareness raising campaign is that Government provide updates on the disease risks, numbers of cases in UK and on the continent, and that industry leaders are the primary communicators to encourage vaccination. JAB includes a wide range of livestock and veterinary organisations, including the companies producing the vaccines, and supported by DEFRA.DEFRA also updates wider stakeholders through regular meetings, and encourages industry to use these messages in their own communications with their members. The Chief Veterinary Officer or Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer will also raise awareness of the disease and promote vaccination in talks or interviews.

Secondary information