Bluetongue is coming again, Wiersma needs extra analysis

The bluetongue virus, which will be deadly to cows, goats and sheep, is making a comeback. That is evident from a letter from the Minister of Agriculture Wiersma to the Home of Representatives. The primary an infection for the reason that winter was detected on June 14, and there are actually 67 suspected instances. One sheep has died, Wiersma writes. The affected firms are primarily primarily based within the Betuwe, North Limburg and the Achterhoek. Many of the animals had now been vaccinated.

Residing within the agricultural sector and amongst specialists nice worries in regards to the return of the virus.

That got here once more after about fifteen years of absence once more this winter within the Netherlands and in consequence tens of hundreds of sheep, cows and goats died. Grownup sheep have been significantly affected.

The virus is transmitted by midges, small mosquitoes. It causes ruminant animals resembling cattle, sheep and goats to grow to be sick, together with fever, stiff legs, swollen tongue and irritation of the intestines. There’s nonetheless no therapy for the most recent model of the blue language.

Properly, that is spring vaccination began. Wiersma writes that there seems to be extra unfold within the severity of the signs, with some animals changing into very sick and others with milder signs. “As is commonly the case with different vaccines, the vaccines can not stop animals from changing into contaminated and changing into sick,” Wiersma stated.

To get a greater image of the state of affairs, she needs to do extra analysis. She expects the variety of infections to rise within the coming months. Based mostly on the experiences of 2007 and 2008, it’s anticipated that “the height of an infection will happen in August and September”. Wiersma is protecting a detailed eye on the state of affairs, she writes.

She additionally says that there’s a reporting obligation for the blue language and that new suspicions should be reported to the NVWA.