The government has approved three bluetongue vaccines to help East Anglia's livestock farmers battle the dangerous animal virus - as case numbers continue to rise.

The potentially-fatal animal disease, spread by infected biting midges, affects animals including cattle, sheep and deer, as well as other ruminants and camelids

New cases of bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) have been confirmed in more than 40 animals across a dozen farms in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex in the last week, prompting the creation of a strict Restricted Zone covering those three counties.

Movement restrictions now apply to all ruminants and camelids moving out of this zone and farmers are urged to only move animals within the zone where this is "absolutely necessary".

This has caused stress and worry for the region's livestock community - but they were offered some hope as Defra permitted the use of three BTV-3 vaccines within the UK.

The vaccines are subject to licences - either a geographically-targeted general licence, or specific licences which can be applied for through the APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency). General licencing will be subject to risk assessments, says Defra.

Unlike other bluetongue vaccines, the currently available BTV-3 vaccines are "suppressive, not preventative".

Defra says: "This means that they will not prevent your animals from being infected or infectious, although they may reduce the clinical signs experienced. For this reason, all movement controls and trade restrictions in place will still apply to vaccinated animals."

Tom Bradshaw, president of the National Farmers' Union (NFU), said: “As the bluetongue virus continues to spread, the announcement of an emergency authorisation for the BTV-3 vaccines is great news. We must now ensure that there is enough availability for livestock farmers in the high-risk area to use if they wish.

"The BTV-3 vaccines make no claim to reduce infectivity, but they do appear to reduce mortality and the severity of clinical signs – they will suppress the virus, not prevent it.

"So, while they won’t stop animals from becoming infected, they could reduce the impact of the disease on individual animals and therefore provide an animal welfare benefit. The use of these vaccines will therefore not ease the movement controls and licences that farmers are dealing with in the Restricted Zone.

“We continue to urge all livestock keepers to remain vigilant for any signs of clinical disease and to report any concerns quickly to their vet or APHA. 

"We also encourage all livestock keepers to comply with any APHA testing requests. The NFU is continuing to work closely with Defra and APHA to ensure that licences to permit movements within the Restricted Zone are available to farmers.”

Defra says livestock keepers should contact their private vet if they want to use any of the available BTV-3 vaccines.

Bluetongue does not affect human health or food safety, but it is a notifiable disease and livestock keepers must report suspected cases to the APHA on 03000 200 301.