The Spread of Bluetongue Across Regions
The deadly Bluetongue virus has made its way into more areas, with cases confirmed in the Enz and Ostalb districts of Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
The district administrations in Pforzheim and Aalen have reported traces of the pathogen in a sheep in the Enz district and two cattle herds in the Ostalb district located in Gschwend municipality. Additional samples from a local sheep farm are currently under examination. The affected farms are under close observation due to the rapid increase in the number of affected districts to twelve in Baden-Württemberg.
Since the BTV3 virus strain surfaced on August 8, the disease has been spreading across the southwest region of Germany, impacting roughly 100 animal farms over the past few weeks. As a result, over 4500 cases have been officially reported in Germany, with confirmed cases found in 12 districts of Baden-Württemberg.
How Does Bluetongue Spread?
Bluetongue is primarily transmitted by biting midges or Culicoides species. Infected animals pass the virus to these insects, which in turn transmit it to other animals during feeding. Luckily, the disease does not pose a risk to human health, and meat and dairy products from infected animals can be consumed safely.
Symptoms of Bluetongue
Infected animals experience symptoms such as fever, inflammation, and bleeding in mucous membranes, increased saliva production, and frothy saliva around the mouth. While some sheep may develop severe diseases leading to fatal outcomes, measures such as prompt vaccination can help protect herds.
The local veterinary office at the district administrations in the Enz and Ostalb districts recommends immediately vaccinating sheep, goat, and cattle herds against the disease. German Federal Minister of Agriculture Cem Özdemir (Greens) echoes this, urging farmers across the nation to take immediate action against the Bluetongue disease via vaccinations.
Additional Information
Bluetongue symptoms typically include fever (ranging from 40°C to 41°C), excessive salivation, swelling of the lips, tongue, and face, bloody diarrhea, lesions on the feet, rapid weight loss, and, in some cases, a blueish-tinged tongue.
As control measures, monitoring and reporting, vector control, vaccination, and trade restrictions are crucial. For specific actions taken in Germany to control bluetongue outbreaks, it is recommended to refer to updates from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) or the German authorities responsible for animal health.
