More than 800 deer at a stately home in Kent are at risk from the deadly bluetongue virus.
The animals are at Knole Park in Sevenoaks, close to the site of the latest outbreak of the disease, nearby Longmeadow Farm.
Tests on Wednesday confirmed the insect-borne virus had spread to the farm, making it the second in the county to confirm bluetongue cases.
The disease mainly affects sheep and cattle, but it can also spread to deer.
Chris Tipping from Strutt and Parker, the land agents for Knole Park, said: "There is nothing that can reasonably be done as the disease is spread by midges but all the procedures, guidance and advice from Defra are being followed and a close watch is being kept on the deer.
“Bluetongue is different to Foot and Mouth, where you can do all sorts of things to minimise the risk."
Knole Park, which is owned by Lord Sackville, is the only deer park of its size in the county.
Although it is privately owned, the public are allowed in the grounds.
Defra officials said they were merging a control zone already in place covering East Anglia and Essex to include Kent and East Sussex - extending the ring by hundreds of miles.
It also extends into parts of West Sussex, Surrey and the London Boroughs of Croydon, Bromley and Bexley.
Farmers now have a much wider area in which to move their livestock, including travelling to markets or fresh grazing pastures.
However, animal movements are restricted outside of the control zone to other parts of the UK.
Symptoms of Bluetongue include a discoloured, swollen tongue, fever, swelling of the head and neck, lameness and foaming at the mouth.
POSTED: 27/10/2007 09:00:00
Bookmark with:
Email to a friend: