A Warning For UK Livestock Farmers As A New Strain Of Bluetongue Virus Arrives On UK Shores
During November 2023, the annual bluetongue surveillance program, carried out by The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and the Pirbright Institute, spotted the first cases of a new strain (BTV-3) of the virus.
Since then seven sheep and 119 cattle have been identified across the counties of Kent, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Surrey. The strain first appeared in the Netherlands in September 2023 and was probably introduced to the UK by biting midges coming over from the continent.
The government’s Department for Environment, Food, & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) are keen to point out that it does not affect food safety or humans.
What is Bluetongue disease and how do you spot it?
Bluetongue disease is a virus that mainly affects sheep, cattle, ruminants, camelids, and rarely carnivores, such as dogs, if they eat infected bio-material.
The main spread of infection is caused by midges, with the high season of risk being the warmer months when midges are most active. It can also be spread between animals via germplasm and by passing from the mother animal to unborn offspring.
Cattle may show no signs of the disease while being infectious for weeks and they are also the most likely to be bitten by midges. Sheep are more severely affected by the virus and are very likely to show symptoms.
Symptoms in sheep
Swelling of the lips, tongue, and head, with possible ulcers inside nose and mouth
Discharge being produced by eyes and nose
Fever
Lameness
Reddening Of the skin
Breathing problems
Stillbirths and abortion
Small, weak, deformed, or blind lambs
Death
Symptoms in cattle
Discharge from the nose
Crusty erosions of the skin around the nose and teats
Redding skin
Fever
Lethargy
Reduced milk yield
Loss of appetite
Stillbirths and abortion
Small, weak, deformed, or blind calves
How is it being handled?
Vigilance, keeping up to date with animal registration details and reporting any clinical signs of the virus in their livestock herds is the latest government advice for farmers. A licensing application system for farmers is also in place if animals need to be moved between disease control zones that will be put in place if cases are confirmed.
The government will be offering free bluetongue virus tests to those whose livestock are in the most at-risk counties. These areas are on the south and east coasts of England due to the incoming midges being blown in from Europe. Any suspicions of Bluetongue must be reported as a notifiable disease to the relevant authorities.
Midge traps have been put in place that are being studied for signs of the virus and testing laboratories are scaling up their operations to allow them to test 2,000 samples from potentially infected animals a day, allowing for a swift response to a positive test.
The government’s DEFRA website says of the situation: “The government is actively monitoring the situation and has been working closely with a wide range of stakeholders to review the bluetongue virus control strategy.
“The UK has world-leading biosecurity measures and capabilities. Our approach to biosecurity is internationally recognised as delivering the highest standards of protection from pests, disease and invasive non-native species.”
The government is also working with manufacturers to develop a BTV-3 vaccine.
Going forward
Farmer’s should not become complacent and must remain vigilant, as the risk to UK herds is likely to spread.
By monitoring animals for signs of the virus and reporting them as soon as possible, the government can then take the necessary actions as fast as possible.
Suspected cases can be reported here.
Sources
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bluetongue-virus-detected-in-a-single-cow-in-kent
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bluetongue
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bluetongue-virus-risk-set-out-for-the-year-ahead