Mass Vaccination Response to Rampant Bluetongue
TURKEY – Turkish veterinary authorities have vaccinated 30,000 sheep in a bid to put the brakes on the ever spreading Bluetongue virus.
21 August 2014
1 minute read
This was in response to an outbreak in far western Turkey in proximity to Greek and Bulgarian borders in the region of Kirklareli.
Confirmation of the virus in Turkey takes the number of countries infected to five.
Previously in August, Macedonia and Bulgaria reported multiple cases after the virus began spreading northwards across the Balkans after previously only being reported in Greece and Italy.
The Kirklareli outbreak is the eastern most extent of the virus to date, according to reports from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
A total of 125 cases, all in sheep and goats, were confirmed, with six deaths in sheep.
Macedonia’s outbreaks are centred in the south eastern regions, mainly in Borovo, Strumica and Kavadarci.
Almost 4,500 head of livestock are at risk from the disease from 139 cases.
This is according to the latest OIE report which told of 21 farms outbreaks with five deaths in sheep.
Michael Priestley
News Team - Editor
Mainly production and market stories on ruminants sector. Works closely with sustainability consultants at FAI Farms
