Latest news with #AVSPNI
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
NI farmers can now vaccinate cattle against bluetongue virus
Farmers in Northern Ireland may now vaccinate their livestock against an insect-borne disease that has been detected in cattle and sheep in England. Bluetongue virus (BTV-3) is carried by biting midges that are found in Northern Ireland, although no cases of the disease have ever been confirmed here. It can have a severe economic impact on rural communities through reduced productivity, movement restrictions, and fatalities. The pre-emptive vaccination permission brings Northern Ireland into line with the rest of the UK. The Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) Minister Andrew Muir said he was making the announcement to give "farmers and livestock keepers an additional safeguard", alongside surveillance, prompt detection and control. "It aims to provide an additional tool to help protect their flocks and herds." BTV-3 does not have any impact on human beings, but the disease has been described as one element of a "triple threat" to agriculture and the agri-food sector in Northern Ireland. While vaccination does not prevent infection or transmission of the virus, it does reduce the severity of its clinical signs. They include a raised temperature, a drop in milk production and drooling. Vet group warns outbreak 'seems inevitable' The Association of Veterinary Surgeons Practising in Northern Ireland (AVSPNI) had written to the department calling for vaccination to be introduced. AVSPNI President Melanie Spahn said there was "a strong case" for vaccinating now, before "an outbreak that seems inevitable" might happen. "Now is the time when midges are most prevalent and active but the characteristics of the vaccines themselves mean that it is also important to vaccinate before the breeding season is underway. "The window of opportunity for action is closing fast and farmers must remain vigilant, looking for BTV signs." The disease has spread across Europe since it was detected in the Netherlands in 2023. It affects cattle and sheep as well as goats, deer and llamas. The spread of the midge that carries the virus depends on temperature and wind patterns. A Bluetongue Disease Control Framework has been published, which highlights the "heightened disease risk" given the detection of the virus in Great Britain. Bluetongue Disease Control Framework Northern Ireland Movement controls brought in over bluetongue virus Bluetongue rules 'devastating' warning Deadly livestock virus restrictions futile - farmers
BBC News
6 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Bluetongue: NI cattle can now be vaccinated against virus
Farmers in Northern Ireland may now vaccinate their livestock against an insect-borne disease that has been detected in cattle and sheep in virus (BTV-3) is carried by biting midges that are found in Northern Ireland, although no cases of the disease have ever been confirmed can have a severe economic impact on rural communities through reduced productivity, movement restrictions, and pre-emptive vaccination permission brings Northern Ireland into line with the rest of the UK. The Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) Minister Andrew Muir said he was making the announcement to give "farmers and livestock keepers an additional safeguard", alongside surveillance, prompt detection and control."It aims to provide an additional tool to help protect their flocks and herds."BTV-3 does not have any impact on human beings, but the disease has been described as one element of a "triple threat" to agriculture and the agri-food sector in Northern vaccination does not prevent infection or transmission of the virus, it does reduce the severity of its clinical include a raised temperature, a drop in milk production and drooling. Vet group warns outbreak 'seems inevitable' The Association of Veterinary Surgeons Practising in Northern Ireland (AVSPNI) had written to the department calling for vaccination to be President Melanie Spahn said there was "a strong case" for vaccinating now, before "an outbreak that seems inevitable" might happen."Now is the time when midges are most prevalent and active but the characteristics of the vaccines themselves mean that it is also important to vaccinate before the breeding season is underway."The window of opportunity for action is closing fast and farmers must remain vigilant, looking for BTV signs."The disease has spread across Europe since it was detected in the Netherlands in affects cattle and sheep as well as goats, deer and spread of the midge that carries the virus depends on temperature and wind patterns.A Bluetongue Disease Control Framework has been published, which highlights the "heightened disease risk" given the detection of the virus in Great Disease Control Framework Northern Ireland
Agriland
7 days ago
- Health
- Agriland
Vet org: NI ‘disadvantaged' and ‘under-prepared' for bluetongue outbreak
The Association of Veterinary Surgeons Practicing in Northern Ireland (AVSPNI) has said they are 'at a loss' to understand why Northern Ireland is the only UK region that has not yet been permitted to vaccinate against bluetongue virus (BTV). The organisation believes that Northern Ireland is 'disadvantaged' and 'under-prepared' for an outbreak that seems inevitable, because vaccinating against BTV3 has not yet been authorised there. AVSPNI president, Melanie Spahn, said she wrote to senior Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) staff last week to suggest a strong case for bluetongue vaccination in Northern Ireland. Spahn said vaccination should be carried out in an 'organised manner now, rather than doing so in haste after clinical cases have already been identified here'. The AVSPNI stress that now is the time when midges are most prevalent and active, but the characteristics of the vaccines themselves mean that it is important to vaccinate before the breeding season begins. The association feel the window of opportunity for action is 'closing fast' and farmers must 'remain vigilant', looking for BTV signs. The AVSPNI said: 'In cattle, a raised temperature and a drop in milk yield may be the only signs of infection and are therefore hard to spot. 'The main signs in sheep are mouth ulcers, drooling, swelling of the head and neck, and lameness. 'As well as the risk of an outbreak caused by midges, there is the risk of importing the disease to Northern Ireland by importing infected animals of any species. With cases in the UK, that risk has heightened considerably.' Bluetongue risk The first cases of bluetongue in the UK for the 2025/2026 season were identified in cattle in Herefordshire, and a sheep in Oxfordshire on July 11. A further outbreak occurred in Buckinghamshire the following day. Given that the virus is spread by biting midges, the disease can spread very quickly in favourable weather conditions. The AVSPNI has highlighted that in the present circumstance, the risk of the disease spreading to Northern Ireland livestock is very high, with DAERA veterinary surgeons commenting publicly about the inevitability of BTV arriving at some point. The veterinary association confirm that they are not calling for 'compulsory vaccination' against bluetongue, but would like farmers to have the option to protect their flocks and herd. According to the AVSPNI, Scottish farmers are already doing so and the organisation feel the risk to Northern Ireland livestock is comparable.
