Latest news with #bluetongue
Reuters
22-07-2025
- Health
- Reuters
Slovenia reports outbreak of bluetongue disease on sheep farm
PARIS, July 22 (Reuters) - Slovenia has reported an outbreak of bluetongue disease on a sheep farm in the southwest, the World Organisation for Animal Health said on Tuesday, citing Slovenian authorities. Bluetongue can be deadly for domestic ruminants such as sheep, cattle and goats. It does not affect humans or the safety of animal meat or milk. One sheep was affected by the virus on a sheep farm with 49 animals in the town of Ilirska Bistrica, the report says.
BBC News
21-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Vaccine scepticism affecting bluetongue jab uptake for sheep and cows
Vaccine scepticism and misinformation is affecting uptake of bluetongue jabs needed to protect farm animals, senior vets have shared with the BBC suggest fewer than 1% of Wales' eight million sheep have been vaccinated so far against the potentially fatal of livestock from England into Wales has been restricted in recent weeks, with new cases of the disease subsequently found near the border in fear the impact could be "catastrophic" should bluetongue take hold in Wales, where livestock farms dominate the agricultural landscape. Spread by midges, bluetongue presents no threat to food safety or human health, but can have serious consequences for ruminant livestock like sheep and and farming organisations are using this week's Royal Welsh Agricultural Show in Llanelwedd, Powys, to push for greater uptake of available show - one of Europe's biggest agricultural events - has banned sheep and cattle from England and Scotland this year, as part of efforts to try and keep the virus out of Wales for as long as government restrictions also limit the movement of sheep across the border without a negative test, while cattle must be fully vaccinated. The latest bluetongue outbreak began in the Netherlands in 2023, where tens of thousands of sheep have blown over from the continent began infecting livestock in the south east of England restrictions helped slow the virus' spread, but as of 1 July the whole of England was classed as a restricted zone for temperatures mean the midge population is now active and the first cases this year were confirmed on 11 July after pre-movement tests on two cattle in has since been revealed these animals were due to be sent on to Wales. "It's been seen as something that's a long way away - but now there's a real possibility that it could get into Wales," warned Phil Thomas, of the Wales Veterinary Science Centre (WVSC)."There's been a lot of misinformation, a lot of downplaying of the disease and I think post-Covid there's also a lot of vaccine scepticism out there," he fact the virus had arrived in less livestock dense parts of the UK to begin with had helped limit the spread, he monitoring of affected farms in the south east of England had revealed worrying implications should the disease reach the UK's sheep and cattle farming heartlands.A recent WVSC webinar for Welsh vets heard of farms in Norfolk experiencing long term fertility issues in herds and flocks which had been infected."There was a sheep farm where 30% of their animals were sick, around 5% died but surviving rams were infertile and the ewes were giving birth to deformed lambs," Mr Thomas example involved a suckler herd of 120 cows where fewer than 60 calves were born the year after infection."It's a big economic loss, and that's a lot of dead stock if it gets into the stock-dense areas that we have in Wales and the borders," he added. An industry wide social media campaign has been launched in recent weeks, with Welsh vets and farmers making an appeal for others to consider vaccinating their livestock."There's been real concern over lack of uptake of the vaccine," explained farm vet Sara Pedersen and member of the Wales Animal Health and Welfare Framework were coming up against "quite a bit of misinformation" such as people saying "it's harmless and it won't reach Wales", she said."We really felt we needed to cut through that and make the most of the opportunity of keeping it out for as long as possible."When it comes it could have catastrophic effects," she warned. How many animals have been vaccinated? The latest figures shared with the BBC showed the vaccine had been prescribed by vets for 154,260 animals in Wales, including 103,970 cattle, 48,904 sheep, 200 camelids (llamas and alpacas) and 1,186 goats. Animal keepers themselves have reported vaccination of 79,694 animals, including 48,403 cattle, 30,898 sheep, and 393 others, including camelids and goats. At Llandovery livestock market in Carmarthenshire, none of the farmers BBC Wales spoke to had vaccinated their animals so far."I'm right down in west Wales so haven't thought of vaccinating yet," explained Alan Jones."But I am keeping an eye on it and reading the news all the time.""We're lucky that bluetongue hasn't affected this area yet," added Gruff Jones, who was worried about how much he would have to spend on vaccination."There are so many costs involved in farming now with fertiliser and feed and everything - add that on and there won't be any profit at all," he Page felt the Welsh government should offer to pay towards the costs of the jabs."There should be more help for farmers to vaccinate their sheep," he said. Jabs cost between £2.50 and £3 per sheep and between £5 and £6 for Roberts of the National Sheep Association (NSA) in Wales said the organisation was urging its members to consider vaccinating their flocks."Even if it ends up that there are not many outbreaks this year, you're still putting in protection for next year - it's well worth doing," she also called for research into whether the vaccines go further than alleviating symptoms in sheep and prevent viremia - circulation of the virus in the blood - to be might allow for the prospect of an easing of cross-border movement restrictions for vaccinated sheep."I'm hoping that information does come through sooner rather than later," she said, adding it would further incentivise uptake of the NSA is asking the Welsh government to set out a plan for how it intends to deal with the disruption to trade along the border as a result of the restrictions."It's coming into peak sales time now with breeding rams and ewes, we need an announcement soon," Ms Roberts said. Deputy first minister Huw Irranca-Davies said the Welsh government was doing its "very best to hold the disease back", buying time for farmers to vaccinate their he warned "the wolf is at our door". He said he was being updated daily by officials and Wales' chief veterinary officer and the Welsh government would keep movement restrictions under review throughout the summer. "But I just want to say very frankly and honestly that every time we make an adjustment it increases cumulatively the risk of bluetongue incursion into Wales," he said.
The Independent
21-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Bluetongue has been detected in England. Here's what you should know
A tiny midge, no bigger than a pinhead, is bringing UK farming to its knees. The culprit? A strain of the bluetongue virus that's never been seen before. As of July 1, the whole of England has been classed as an 'infected area' due to bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV-3). There are movement restrictions and testing in place in Scotland, Wales and the island of Ireland. No animals from England – or that have passed through England – are allowed to attend this year's Royal Welsh Show on July 21-24, for example. The virus, which causes illness and death in sheep, cattle, goats and other ruminants, is spread by biting midges. Although it poses no risk to humans and can't be transmitted from one animal to another, the latest outbreak is more severe than previous ones. And it could cause lasting damage to UK farming. Bluetongue isn't new to the UK, however. A different strain, BTV-8 was detected in 2007 and contained. But BTV-3 is a different story. First detected in the Netherlands in late 2023, it was quickly spotted in the UK, where an early containment effort initially appeared successful. But the virus made a comeback in autumn 2024 – and this time it spread. On its second attempt, the virus was able to circulate and caused an outbreak. With little existing immunity, BTV-3 has now established itself, prompting concerns about animal welfare, food production and farming livelihoods. What does the disease do? Sheep tend to be the most severely affected, though all ruminants are at risk. Clinical signs are species-specific but can include swelling of the face, congestion, nasal discharge, ulcers in the mouth and nose, difficulty breathing and abortion or birth deformities. Bluetongue can cause the animal's tongue to swell. It can also turn blue from a lack of blood flow – although this is somewhat rare. Bluetongue disease causes suffering in animals, and while there is a vaccine, there is no treatment for the disease once it's contracted. BTV-3 appears to be more lethal than earlier strains. In the Netherlands, vets report that BTV-3 is causing more severe symptoms than BTV-8 did. Vets in England reported that in some herds 25-40% of cows failed to get pregnant, and there was a high rate of birth defects and stillborn calves. One farm in Suffolk started the calving season with 25% of their cows not pregnant and ended with just 48 calves from 97 cows. Belgium has seen a fall in calf births, reduced milk deliveries and higher mortality in small ruminants compared to the previous three years. How is it spread? Bluetongue virus is transmitted by midges from the Culicoides genus. These are tiny, biting insects that thrive in mild, wet conditions. Multiple midges can bite the same animal, and it only takes one of them to carry BTV before that animal becomes a host for further transmission. When animals are transported long distances, infected individuals can be bitten again and introduce the virus to previously uninfected midge populations. Climate change is making outbreaks like this more likely. Milder winters and cooler, wetter summers are ideal for midges, increasing both their numbers and their biting activity. While there's no danger to human health, the consequences of BTV-3 are far-reaching. Limitations on movement, exports and imports are being imposed to help prevent the spread of the disease, but this could also hamper farming practices and trade. The disease and its associated restrictions pose another source of stress for farmers, 95% of whom have ranked mental health as the biggest hidden problem in farming. Genetic pick and mix One of the reasons bluetongue is so tricky to manage is its ability to evolve. It has a segmented genome, meaning its genetic material, in this case RNA, is split into ten segments. This characteristic is exclusive to 'reassortment viruses' and means that they can easily exchange segments of RNA. It's like a genetic pick and mix with ten different types of sweets that come in an unlimited number of flavours. This allows BTV to create new, genetically distinct 'serotypes', which may have a selective advantage or a disadvantage. Those with an advantage will emerge and spread successfully, while those with a disadvantage will not emerge at all. This process, known as 'reassortment', is partly responsible for the numerous influenza pandemics throughout history and has even allowed diseases to jump the species barrier. Although bluetongue doesn't affect humans directly, its spread poses a growing threat to the UK's livestock sector and food supply. It's important to learn from other countries that are further along in the BTV-3 outbreak so that the likely effects can be anticipated in the UK.
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bluetongue outbreak endangers UK livestock – what you need to know about the virus
A tiny midge, no bigger than a pinhead, is bringing UK farming to its knees. The culprit? A strain of the bluetongue virus that's never been seen before. As of July 1, the whole of England has been classed as an 'infected area' due to bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV-3). There are movement restrictions and testing in place in Scotland, Wales and the island of Ireland. No animals from England – or that have passed through England – are allowed to attend this year's Royal Welsh Show on July 21-24, for example. Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK's latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences. The virus, which causes illness and death in sheep, cattle, goats and other ruminants, is spread by biting midges. Although it poses no risk to humans and can't be transmitted from one animal to another, the latest outbreak is more severe than previous ones. And it could cause lasting damage to UK farming. Bluetongue isn't new to the UK, however. A different strain, BTV-8 was detected in 2007 and contained. But BTV-3 is a different story. First detected in the Netherlands in late 2023, it was quickly spotted in the UK, where an early containment effort initially appeared successful. But the virus made a comeback in autumn 2024 – and this time it spread. On its second attempt, the virus was able to circulate and caused an outbreak. With little existing immunity, BTV-3 has now established itself, prompting concerns about animal welfare, food production and farming livelihoods. What does the disease do? Sheep tend to be the most severely affected, though all ruminants are at risk. Clinical signs are species-specific but can include swelling of the face, congestion, nasal discharge, ulcers in the mouth and nose, difficulty breathing and abortion or birth deformities. Bluetongue can cause the animal's tongue to swell. It can also turn blue from lack of blood flow – although this is somewhat rare. Bluetongue disease causes suffering in animals, and while there is a vaccine, there is no treatment for the disease once it's contracted. BTV-3 appears to be more lethal than earlier strains. In the Netherlands, vets report that BTV-3 is causing more severe symptoms than BTV-8 did. Vets in England reported that in some herds 25-40% of cows failed to get pregnant, and there was a high rate of birth defects and stillborn calves. One farm in Suffolk started the calving season with 25% of their cows not pregnant and ended with just 48 calves from 97 cows. Belgium has seen a fall in calf births, reduced milk deliveries and higher mortality in small ruminants compared to the previous three years. How is it spread? Bluetongue virus is transmitted by midges from the Culicoides genus. These are tiny, biting insects that thrive in mild, wet conditions. Multiple midges can bite the same animal, and it only takes one of them to carry BTV before that animal becomes a host for further transmission. When animals are transported long distances, infected individuals can be bitten again and introduce the virus to previously uninfected midge populations. Climate change is making outbreaks like this more likely. Milder winters and cooler, wetter summers are ideal for midges, increasing both their numbers and their biting activity. While there's no danger to human health, the consequences of BTV-3 are far-reaching. Limitations on movement, exports and imports are being imposed to help prevent the spread of the disease, but this could also hamper farming practices and trade. The disease and its associated restrictions pose another source of stress for farmers, 95% of whom have ranked mental health as the biggest hidden problem in farming. Genetic pick and mix One of the reasons bluetongue is so tricky to manage is its ability to evolve. It has a segmented genome, meaning its genetic material, in this case RNA, is split into ten segments. This characteristic is exclusive to 'reassortment viruses' and means that they can easily exchange segments of RNA. It's like a genetic pick and mix with ten different types of sweets that come in an unlimited number of flavours. This allows BTV to create new, genetically distinct 'serotypes', which may have a selective advantage or a disadvantage. Those with an advantage will emerge and spread successfully, while those with a disadvantage will not emerge at all. This process, known as 'reassortment', is partly responsible for the numerous influenza pandemics throughout history and has even allowed diseases to jump the species barrier. Although bluetongue doesn't affect humans directly, its spread poses a growing threat to the UK's livestock sector and food supply. It's important to learn from other countries that are further along in the BTV-3 outbreak so that the likely effects can be anticipated in the UK. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Cate Williams does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
BBC News
02-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Farmers not listened to on Bluetongue, industry tells Senedd
The farming sector "wasn't listened to" by the Welsh government over bluetongue restrictions in Wales, according to industry Tuesday, all cattle, sheep and goats being transported across the border from England need to test negative for the disease before they can be moved into Welsh government said it was trying to prevent the virus from entering on Wednesday a Senedd committee heard the policy was "another nail in the coffin". Spread by midges, bluetongue presents no threat to food safety or human health, but can be fatal for livestock, including sheep and a UK government decision, the whole of England has been designated as a restricted zone since Tuesday. That means animals can be moved within England without decision has prompted the Welsh government to impose strict rules on the movement of livestock into Wales from England as it attempts to prevent the virus from crossing the coming into Wales to be slaughtered can still be transported without a pre-movement their slaughter must take place within 24 hours and "the movement must take place after dawn and be completed before dusk".On Wednesday, the British Meat Processors Association Chief Executive Nick Allen told the Senedd's economy committee the policy would "undoubtedly" raise questions about the viability of some meat processing plants in Wales. "It's going to cause problems and it's going to make your plants in Wales less competitive because it's going to be harder to bring animals into Wales," he Allen told the committee the main meat processing plants brought in a third of their animals from outside Wales on average."Frankly, it's another nail in the coffin," he Allen said he had discussed the concerns with the Welsh government "two weeks ago".Asked what response he was given, Mr Allen said "the industry wasn't listened to".Animals being transported to be kept alive, for example for breeding, will have to undergo testing or be vaccinated before they can be brought into Association of Independent Meat Suppliers Chairman John Thorley told the committee that ordinarily a lot of stock would be moved around the UK at this time of also claimed the "artificial boundary" now in place between Wales and England was "creating trading difficulties not only that will create very little benefit, but which will cause huge difficulty".
