Bluetongue ( blue tongue ) has now spread to sheep in the UK and the virus has been identified in two flocks in Suffolk. This is an extremely worrying development as sheep are most susceptible to the virus and up to a massive 70 % of flocks can be wiped out once infected.

Up until now the virus has only been found in cattle in East Anglia. Bluetongue has now been identified on a total of 36 farms and 60 infected animals have tested positive.

To date , no sheep on the affected farms have died from the virus.

Movement restrictions were eased at midnight last night in order to allow movement to slaughter from the bluetongue zone.

Hopes remain that a cold winter could eradicate the disease carrying midge but DEFRA vets have revealed that they expect the virus to continue until at least the end of December. They also raised fears that the virus will continue to spread to areas with more intense sheep production.

Deputy Chief Vet , Fred Landeg said " we can expect to see more case before the end of the midge season. "

" There are now 36 premises known to be infected clustered around the Ipswich and Lowestoft area. "

" Half of these have been reported by farmers and the other half have been picked up by surveillance testing. "

The Bluetongue virus was confirmed in Essex last week and DEFRA has increased the bluetongue zone accordingly.

It looks as though the UK is not the only nation dealing with a Bluetongue crisis. A case of bluetongue has now also been confirmed in southern Denmark

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