ANPEA sheep infected with the bluetongue virus
NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 19:23
The number of infections with bluetongue on farms is still rising rapidly. Out the most recent overview The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) shows that there are now almost 800 affected locations. Most infections are in the center and northwest of the country.
The bluetongue virus reappeared in the Netherlands at the beginning of last month for the first time since 2009, on four sheep farms in North Holland and Utrecht. Since then, the number of reports has risen sharply: a week ago there were 319 infections.
Sheep often become infected, but cows are also affected. Veterinarian Peter Witte sees up close what the virus does to the animals:
Veterinarian Peter Witte: ‘The number of people you encounter crying is terrible’
The virus hits sheep the hardest, but goats and cattle can also become ill. The disease is transmitted by midges, very small flies. People cannot become infected.
Companies where bluetongue outbreaks have a reporting obligation. In animals that are very sick, the tongue turns blue. They also have a high fever, drool and walk lame. In many cases it kills them.
Texel
The NVWA map shows that bluetongue has now spread across eight provinces. Only Zeeland, Limburg, Friesland and Drenthe are not affected.
The first infection was also reported on Texel. NH Nieuws writes that this is hitting hard on the island, which has about 15,000 sheep (about as many as the number of human residents). “We live in fear and trembling,” said sheep farmer Koos Tjepkema earlier this week NH News.
Powerless
Outgoing Minister Adema is also worried and feels powerless, he said in the House of Representatives this week. “When you see how the animals suffer, ultimately resulting in death. It’s terrible for the animals and it’s terrible for the keepers.” Adema expects that the sheep population will be a lot smaller next year.
For now, he advises farmers to bring sheep in before sunset, as midges become active around that time. “But it’s basically mopping with the tap open.”
According to the minister, pharmaceutical companies are working hard on a vaccine, but it is still unclear when that will be available. The safety of a South African vaccine is currently being investigated.
2023-10-05 17:23:17
#infections #bluetongue #virus #Texel
