17 December 2012

2 minute read

Europe

The Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, as of December 14, has reported a total of 976 Schmallenberg cases with a total of 673 cases of the disease found in cattle.

Both surveillance initiatives were based on free testing of cases that met certain criteria in previously unaffected counties. As Schmallenberg virus has now been identified in most counties of England and Wales, the enhanced surveillance has served the purpose for which it was introduced: to identify cases in previously unaffected areas as early as possible. The two initiatives will therefore cease with effect from today (14 December 2012).

Farmers are advised by the AHVLA to contact their veterinarians if they have concerns and vets should contact their local AHVLA Investigation Centre if they require advice.

1. The Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, working across Great Britain on behalf of Defra, Scottish Government and Welsh Government.

2. Schmallenberg virus (SBV) is a vector* borne virus identified in 2011 that affects sheep, cattle and goats and is widely distributed in Northern and Western Europe and the United Kingdom. Its acute form can cause mild to moderate fever, reduced milk yield, loss of appetite, loss of body condition and sometimes diarrhoea in adult cattle. It can also lead to abnormalities in newborn animals, such as twisted necks or limbs in still and live births, mainly in sheep but also in cattle and goats and has been linked to late abortions.

[*vectors are organisms – in this case biting insects, such as midges and mosquitoes - that transmit infections from one host to another]

3. Farmers are advised to contact their veterinary practitioner if they encounter the following symptoms, and SBV infection is suspected: cases of ruminant new borns or foetuses which are stillborn, show malformations or are showing nervous disease, signs such as a transient drop in milk yield, fever and diarrhoea in adult dairy cattle.

4. Veterinary practitioners should contact their AHVLA / SRUC laboratory if they suspect infection with the virus. Details of premises with suspected or confirmed disease are treated as confidential and will not be made publicly known. Laboratories will require a full history to provide the necessary clinical and epidemiological information.

5. Further information on SBV is available at: http://vla.defra.gov.uk/science/sci_schmallenberg.htm

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