Christmas Market Reindeer Parade Canceled Due to Bluetongue Outbreak

The reindeer parade at a Christmas market has been called off following an outbreak of bluetongue disease. These animals were scheduled to appear at the Beverley Festival of Christmas, set for Sunday, but the festival location is situated within a designated restriction zone for the viral condition. Controls were implemented on September 17 after the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs announced “evidence that there is some local transmission of bluetongue virus”. This illness, which poses no risk to humans, is transmitted by midges and impacts cattle and sheep, leading to symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, lameness, and stiffness. Nick Coultish, a councillor for East Riding of Yorkshire, commented: “We are disappointed that the reindeer will not feature at this year’s festival, but the welfare of the animals is of upmost importance.”We have been directed by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs that they are unable to travel into our area.’’ The yearly festival includes over 120 vendors offering food items and Christmas presents. For more content, listeners can access highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire via BBC Sounds, viewers can watch the most recent episode of Look North, or individuals can submit potential news stories here. This content is copyrighted by BBC in 2024. All rights are reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for material found on external websites. Further details on the BBC’s external linking policy are available.