The British government has announced an outbreak of the livestock disease bluetongue.

The disease was first detected in early September, when a cow on a farm near Ipswich, Suffolk, was found infected with the bluetongue virus. Since then, the virus has migrated to Essex county, affecting more than 30 cattle herds, say officials of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The virus is now spreading to the country's sheep herds and has already affected two flocks in Suffolk county, they say. The outbreak comes in the wake of a foot-and-mouth outbreak that still affect parts of the country.