Canada has imposed an immediate ban on cattle imports from Texas following the confirmation of bluetongue virus in the state’s livestock. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency announced the measure late Tuesday, citing the need to protect domestic herds from the vector-borne disease. Ottawa has also tightened surveillance at major ports of entry.
The United Kingdom, meanwhile, has deployed veterinary teams to enforce quarantine protocols for British herds, pre-emptively restricting livestock movements within High Risk Areas. Defra confirmed that the response was coordinated with the World Organisation for Animal Health. Bluetongue, though not transmissible to humans, can cause severe losses in sheep and cattle.
The UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer described the action as a ‘proportionate safeguard’ against a disease that has spread rapidly across Europe in recent months.
