Bluetongue

NSA Members Update, October 24th, 2007

Bluetongue Zones continue to expand:
There is spread of bluetongue cases in Kent which is leading to a slow expansion of both the Control and Protection Zones. The latest case today which was a report case by the farmer is near Sevenoaks in Kent and has moved both zones westwards so that the Protection Zone is now in Dorset. Please use the links off the NSA website to see more detail and if the new zones affect you.

Vaccination Pressure increases:
Vaccination is now widely regarded as the only long term prospect for protecting the sheep industry against bluetongue. Two companies - Intervet and Merial are leading the way in the development of a vaccine and both are close to finishing this phase of the operation. Defra are actively engaged in the vaccination debate and will have a key role to play in the purchase of the vaccine and working with industry in agreeing the strategy for its use next year - if it is available. The call on vaccine throughout mainland Europe is likely to be in excess on 150 million doses so securing the quantities that will be needed will not be easy and it is likely UK will not get all it wants straight away. There will be lots more on bluetongue vaccine in forthcoming updates.

Bluetongue meetings:
NSA in conjunction with the National Beef Association, the Livestock Auctioneers Association, EBLEX and Farmers Weekly are organising a series of meetings across the country on bluetongue and what it means for the sheep industry. Three meetings have been arranged so far:-

Kettering Conference Centre on November 7th
Thame Livestock Market on November 8th
Ashford Livestock Market on November 14th.

All meetings start at 7pm and will include presentations from leading industry and veterinary experts including speakers from mainland Europe who have been dealing with bluetongue first hand at most meetings. Please call the office in Malvern for more information and to book your place and tell your friends and neighbours to attend as these meetings are open.

These updates will be written as often as there is relevant information to get out to members and the NSA website www.nationalsheep.org.uk is kept as up to date as possible and has links to many other sites of interest.

Contact details of interest are:
Peter Morris email peter@nationalsheep.org.uk / 07788 921617
George Milne email george.nsa@btconnect.com / 07831 511330
Helen Davies email helen@nationalsheep.org.uk / 07976 803066
Defra Helpline 08459 335577
Scottish Government FMD helpline 0845 155 3366

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28th September 2007 NSA sadness as Bluetongue now Confirmed as Official Outbreak: NSA has expressed sadness that the increasing number of cases of bluetongue in Suffolk has led Defra to officially recognise them as an outbreak and notify the EU Commission accordingly. This is extremely significant as it is the official trigger for control zones and protection zones to be put in place and for the accompanying restrictions to be introduced. The official restrictions that are now in place will result in the establishment of two zones based on minimum distances of 20km and 150km from the infected premises. This is not an exact science as roads will be used as the boundaries and consideration has been given to the shape of the plume of infected midges which brought the infection over at the point they hit GB shores. Detailed maps will become available over the weekend with more information on what the restrictions mean for affected farmers. NSA Chief Executive, Peter Morris, said "Most people knew deep down that once bluetongue hit our shores then this would inevitably follow, nevertheless it is another hammer blow to sheep farmers already suffering under FMD restrictions. "All sheep farmers but especially those in the eastern counties down as far as Kent must be extra vigilant and take the time to look closely at their sheep for signs of disease. Restrictions will stay in place for many months to come and if the disease spreads then the area under restriction will grow. Moving animals and creating trade in restricted areas will be difficult but we must do whatever we can to stimulate any confidence we can in the marketplace and lift demand for product. This would at least give an economic boost to an industry under unprecedented pressure. "Government and industry have a duty to make the restrictions as easy to understand and workable as possible within the bounds of not risking disease spread and NSA is committed to playing its part in that process. Bluetongue will be with our industry until the weather deals with it in the short term or a vaccine becomes available hopefully next year. Until then we must do all we can to help those affected by this. As an industry, we have to cope and we will cope no matter how difficult it becomes." For further information please contact NSA on telephone number 01684 892661

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Letter from RBST on Bluetongue

Bluetongue (BTV) is a disease caused by a virus that is spread from animal to animal by midges. It naturally affects domestic and wild ruminants including sheep, cattle, camelids, goats and deer.

The RBST is deeply concerned that a case of Blue Tongue Virus has been identified in a cow in Suffolk and wishes to high light the following points.

• We have seen the impact of this disease on our European neighbours with nearly 5000 outbreaks confirmed in the EU.
• We note that Defra says that the case in Suffolk does not constitute a confirmed outbreak and will not do so unless further investigation demonstrates that the disease is circulating. We understand that the one infected animal will be culled.
• The Government must refrain from any wider culling policy. Widespread culling of animals would not contain the virus, but we appreciate that in some cases, it may be necessary to do so on welfare grounds.
• This is a serious situation but we hope that this is an isolated case. Precautionary restrictions are essential but the nature of the spread, by wind-borne midges, presents a real challenge - even with conventional animal movement controls.
• The onset of cooler weather and less favourable wind patterns may offer some respite and in the longer term, increase the prospect of developing effective vaccines against this threat. Some infected animals can recover - and become naturally immune.

The Facts

The virus cannot be transmitted between animals - only via the bite of a Culicoide midge. However, the BVA concede that mechanical transmission is possible between herds and flocks, through the use of contaminated surgical equipment or hypodermic needles. Peak populations of vector Culicoides occur in late summer and autumn - resulting in more cases at that time.

How to spot the disease Clinical signs can vary by species, although symptoms are generally more severe in sheep. Cattle can be infected more frequently, but often show no symptoms at all and this is often the case for goats too.

Clinical signs in sheep

• Eye and nasal discharges
• Drooling due to ulceration of the mouth
• High body temperature
• Swelling of mouth, head, neck
• Lameness
• Haemorrhages
• Inflammation of the junction of the skin and horn of foot - the coronary band
• Respiratory problems
• A blue tongue is rarely a clinical sign
• Deaths of sheep in a flock may reach 70%. Animals that survive may lose condition resulting in reduction in meat and wool production

Clinical signs in cattle

• It is possible that cattle will show no clinical signs but signs could include:
• Nasal discharge
• Swelling of the head, neck
• Conjunctivitis
• Swelling in and ulceration of the mouth
• Swollen teats
• Tiredness
• Drooling
• In cattle the disease cannot be diagnosed on clinical grounds and requires laboratory testing to confirm

Although the impact varies between strains (serotypes) and at present 24 distinct serotypes have been identified, Bluetongue can have significant economic impacts in terms of on farm losses due to death, sickness, reduced productivity and losses to export revenue as live exports are banned from affected areas.

Risks to the UK

Obviously now that the disease has been identified in northern Europe the risk to UK farmers has increased and this is confirmed by a single cow contracting Bluetongues on a Suffolk farm. There are two main routes into the UK: animal imports and wind borne spread of the virus as midges are carried over on prevailing winds

Preventative measures

Inspect your herds and flocks closely, particularly focusing on the mouth linings and coronary band. If in doubt consult your vet. If you suspect that one of your animals has Bluetongue then report it as soon as possible – to find out the telephone number of your nearest Animal Health Office call the Defra helpline: 08459 335577 or visit the website: www.defra.gov.uk or http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/latest/2007/animal-0922.htm

Bluetongue is a notifiable disease.

For more information or advice either call the Defra helpline - 08459 33 55 77 - or RBST on 024 7669 8767.
Website: www.rbst.org.uk

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NADIS Sheep Bulletin on Bluetongue October 2007 with photographs of disease symptoms [Adobe Reader is required]

The Defra webpage on Bluetongue with links to Bluetongue disease contingency plans for GB and to the UK Bluetongue Control Strategy

Institute of Animal Health page on Bluetongue

Page on Bluetongue in Wikipedia

Page on Bluetongue at Department of Agriculture & Rural Development

*Adobe Reader can be downloaded free from http://adobe-reader.download-click.at/uk/

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