A shellshocked farmer has lost 25 sheep and lambs to bluetongue as the virus continues to devastate livestock in parts of Britain.
Kim Dart dreaded checking her flock each day as more animals died despite her best efforts to protect them.
She spent days just carrying water to keep the 500-strong flock from dying of thirst.
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Figures from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) on Sunday showed 258 affected sites in Devon and 96 in Cornwall, making the South West the worst-hit area of the UK.
Some farmers have warned the outbreak could become the biggest crisis to hit the sector since the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who visited a farm in Truro on Saturday (15 August), said the virus was “very much at the top of our agenda” and that work was being done “to get the vaccine to the farms” where it was needed, according to the BBC.
The PM added that the government was talking to the National Farmers’ Union about concerns around access.
“The disease makes them lethargic with sore feet so they are unable to walk to the water troughs,” Kim, from South Molton, told Need To Know.
“But we still lost 25 sheep.
“We didn’t see it coming on this scale.
“We’d heard about it, but we didn’t expect it to be quite as overwhelming, really.
“One minute you think that they’re doing OK and then suddenly they die.”
The outbreak has also left farmers facing hefty vaccination bills.
Kim expects to spend between £7,000 and £8,000 vaccinating all her animals.
The cost and difficulty of dealing with dead livestock have added further pressure.
A local collection service received 120 calls from farmers in a single day asking for dead animals to be removed.
The virus is spread by biting midges.
Kim added that she had now managed to vaccinate her flock and a herd of cattle too.
But was unsure if her animals would remain protected because of different strains of bluetongue.
Vets have warned that biting midges could remain active until November and are urging livestock owners to vaccinate their animals as soon as possible.
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