Farmers are urged to remain vigilant.
Bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV-3) has been confirmed in four more cows in Kent, bringing the total number of recent cases in England to five.
The four new cases are on two premises within the 10km Temporary Control Zone which was put in place earlier this month after the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and the Pirbright Institute identified the first case on a farm near Canterbury.
The infected animals will be culled to reduce the risk of the disease spreading. The Temporary Control Zone remains in place.
According to APHA, there is no evidence that the virus is being spread by midges in the area.
The five cases in Great Britain follow an outbreak in the Netherlands of a new strain of BTV-3, which has spread across hundreds of farms since early September.
There is currently no effective vaccine against the new strain.
Chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss has urged farmers to remain vigilant and report any suspicions to APHA.
Bluetongue is a notifiable disease and suspected cases must be reported immediately on 03000 200 301 in England or 03003 038 268 in Wales. In Scotland, possible cases should be reported to the local field services office.
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