The livestock show has been canceled due to the bluetongue virus

A cattle show has been canceled due to the spread of the bluetongue virus.

Organizers have confirmed that the English Winter Fair, which was due to be held at Staffordshire County Showground on November 16 and 17, will no longer be held.

A statement from the site said the existing restricted zone (RZ) was about 10 miles from the county border and 30 from the fairgrounds.

But he said the continued spread of the virus, partly caused by “timeless” mild weather, meant the risk of the area spreading to the site was “too great”.

“If the venue was to be included within the RZ before the show, the event would still not be able to take place as the advice from Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) is that the movement of livestock should only be for essential purposes,” the statement added.

“Ultimately, our main concern is that we would not in any way expose our exhibitors’ livestock to the risk of disease, which we believe would be the case if the event were to go ahead.”

Bluetongue virus affects cattle and sheep, causing skin damage, fever and potentially death.

It has been spreading across England in recent weeks, with a case of the disease recently discovered in Shropshire.

The restriction zone set up by Defra formally restricts the movement of animals to try to prevent the spread of the virus.

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