The EU must work together to develop a rapid field test to identify animals infected with Schmallenberg virus and also a vaccine to protect vulnerable livestock, the NFU has said, as the deadly virus spreads to the Westcountry.

The first case of the Schmallenberg virus has been discovered in Cornwall, the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) has confirmed, with each of the region's four counties described as "comparatively higher risk."

Cornwall is the first location in the West of England to be hit by the virus, which can cause late abortion or birth defects in newborn cattle, sheep and goats.

There is major concern in Cornwall that the presence of Schmallenberg could have a serious effect on the lambing season.

The NFU vice-president Gwyn Jones has met with European Commission officials and farm leaders from across Europe to discuss the worrying spread of Schmallenberg at an EU Animal Health Advisory Committee in Brussels.

Mr Jones, who is also the vice chairman of the Copa Animal Health and Welfare Group which represents all EU farming unions, said collaborative action would be essential to stamp out the disease.

"This deadly disease is spread by midges that have no respect for Member State boundaries, it is therefore important that we work together with our neighbours to share information and technology to stop its spread," said Mr Jones.

"The number of livestock infected with the virus continues to rise but we still have no on-farm test and no vaccine to protect our animals.

"In the short term we are encouraging farmers to continue to check their animals and report any suspicious symptoms to their vet, the more information available the quicker a solution can be found.

"But in the longer term the focus in the EU must be to work together to develop a field test to identify the virus rapidly and a vaccine for farmers to protect their livestock from future outbreaks.

"I have also stressed to my colleagues and EU officials the need for us to continue to communicate exactly where the disease is emerging so that we can track the trajectory and speed of its spread across Europe."

Reacting to the trade ban already put in place by some countries outside of the EU, Mr Jones said: "The Commission must communicate to consumers both within the EU and outside that the Schmallenberg virus poses no risk to human health."

In the UK the virus was first found to be present in East Anglia and was previously restricted to the South East of England.

A spokesman for AHVLA said there had been an increase in the number of Schmallenberg cases reported in France.

The spokesman said: "Areas at comparatively higher risk in the UK have been revised in line with the plume modelling data from the summer which models areas at risk of midge incursion from northern Europe.

"These areas include Dorset, Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and therefore an increase in risk for South Wales. The timing of the most dense plumes would have been in late October for this South West region.

"This is therefore in line with the appearance of deformities in lambs being born now, assuming the highest risk period for lambs is if the mother is infected at approximately one month into gestation."

Schmallenberg has now been confirmed at more than 50 farms across the country.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control suggests that there is a low likelihood of any risk to public health.