Britain's farm ministry has reported a fifth case of bluetongue disease in an animal in Suffolk, eastern England.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said an animal tested positive at a premises near near Burstall, Suffolk. The animal will be killed.
Mace Green Farm, Suffolk where the UK's fourth case of bluetongue was discovered on Wednesday. Image: PA.
Britain's first-ever case of bluetongue was reported on Saturday in Baylham, also in Suffolk, and a second case was reported at the same farm on Monday.
A third case near Lowestoft in Suffolk was confirmed on Tuesday, and a fourth case near Ipswich on Wednesday.
Irish Farmers' Association president Padraig Walshe said the bluetongue outbreak reinforces the need for vigilance across Ireland.
He said the "clear focus for Ireland must be to remain FMD [foot-and-mouth] and bluetongue free". He called on Minister for Agriculture Mary Coughlan to ensure that a high level of biosecurity is applied at all points of entry into the country.
The disease is mostly found in Mediterranean countries such as Italy, Spain and in North Africa, but has spread this year across five more northerly EU countries - Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
Bluetongue causes fever and mouth ulcers and in some cases turns an animal's tongue blue. It is transmitted by insects such as midges and can be highly dangerous to sheep and cows, although it does not affect humans.
Defra also said today it had decided to ease current foot-and-mouth disease restrictions to allow movements to livestock markets in low-risk areas from next week.