The cold appears to be putting a brake on the spread of the bluetongue virus for the time being. The number of infections has fallen rapidly recently. However, this does not mean that we are done with the bluetongue virus.
Three months ago, the bluetongue virus returned to the Netherlands after fourteen years. In mid-November, Minister Adema of LNV announced that more than five percent of sheep in the Netherlands had died from bluetongue.
Midges, the spreaders of the bluetongue virus, do not like the cold. These mosquitoes are less active below eight degrees. The virus will then spread less quickly. The falling temperatures in recent weeks have therefore resulted in fewer and fewer bluetongue infections, according to the WUR.
Bluetongue virus overwinters
However, this offers no guarantees for the next season. It could very well be that some midges survive in the stable and come out again in the spring. Then the virus can return again. New bluetongue infections are also still being reported, although to a lesser extent.
There is currently no vaccine available against this variant of the bluetongue virus. Researchers from several pharmaceutical companies are working hard on a suitable vaccine against the virus. The LNV is also investigating which midges are responsible for the transmission of bluetongue. The disease progression and mortality rates of this virus are also being examined, so that we can respond accordingly next season.
Text: Kim Sjoers
2023-12-06 08:31:55
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