A case of Bluetongue virus (BTV) has been confirmed within Westmorland and Furness.

The positive case relates to one sheep that was moved to a farm from an area where the disease is now known to be circulating.

The farm is under restriction and the infected animal has been culled, said the council.

The council said further testing will be undertaken to ensure there has been no local transmission.

Bluetongue is a notifiable disease and must be reported by law, however, it does not affect humans and therefore there is no public health risk.

The law does not permit you to move any animal showing signs of infection. If you detect signs of the disease in an animal, you must report it to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).

The disease affects ruminants such as sheep, cattle, goats and deer as well as camelids like llamas and alpacas. It does not affect horses or pigs.

Clinical signs vary across susceptible species, but include fever, lesions, redness of the mouth, eyes, nose, reddening of the skin above the hoof, excessive salivation and nasal discharge. Some animals may show few or no clinical signs.

BTV is mainly spread by adult-infected midges biting an animal susceptible to the disease. Infected midges can spread locally and more widely in certain temperatures and wind conditions.

Find out more information and how to report bluetongue by visiting www.gov.uk/bluetongue