A PROTECTION zone was put in place in Suffolk today after government vets confirmed the bluetongue disease was now circulating in the UK.The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs today declared it was now classing the problem as an outbreak.

A PROTECTION zone was put in place in Suffolk today after government vets confirmed the bluetongue disease was now circulating in the UK.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs today declared it was now classing the problem as an outbreak.

A fifth case of bluetongue was confirmed in a cow on a farm near Burstall yesterday.

The disease was first detected at the Baylham House rare breeds farm near Ipswich on September 21.

Defra has introduced measures in a bid to combat the disease, which is transmitted by biting midges.

The protection zones will be a minimum of 93 miles around infected premises.

Deputy chief veterinary officer Fred Landeg said: “We can now confirm that we do have bluetongue virus circulating in this country.

“Although this disease is not welcome to the farming community, it is important to emphasise this is a very different disease to foot and mouth.”