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BTV Update 17 December 2009
The general situation in
the EU at the beginning of November was;
France
Whole of mainland FR is a BTV1&8 zone. In 2009
there have been 79
outbreaks the majority being BTV 1. Some cases are
on the channel coast
and in a prime position for wind blow to southern England.
Vaccination is
compulsory in France.
Germany
9 new cases of BTV in 2009 and for 2010 the vaccination
programme will be
voluntary.
Portugal
BTV1 – 96 outbreaks in 2009, with the vector
circulation starting on 24 March
09. Viral circulation started 1 July 09.
Italy
In total there have been 63 outbreaks of BTV8 in 2009.
Spain
BTV 1 circulating and serious risk of infection with
BTV 4 from Morocco,
where there is no apparent desire to use vaccine.
GB
• Defra now have the results of the Bluetongue
winter surveillance which
shows all samples were negative for all BTV serotypes.
• The
survey, conducted during November, tested for all serotypes
of
Bluetongue and covered the whole of GB. More intensive
testing was carried
out in the South and East of England where disease
was first discovered in
2007 and where there is a greater risk of infection
from continental Europe.
• Thanks to those who
participated in the programme.
• There have been
no cases of BTV during 2009. The surveillance carried
out
during November should be part of the evidence base
if GB decides in the
future to apply for BTV freedom. At present the policy
is to prepare evidence
for an application should the correct conditions arise
where it would be in the
industries interest to apply for freedom.
Vaccination
in 2010
BTV is still circulating in Europe and we have seen
how quickly and easily it can
spread if vaccine has not been used, equally we have
seen how effective vaccine
is. I shall boost all my cattle this new year (and
my sheep). I see it as cheaper to
administer one booster jab at a time to suit me rather
than rush to do 2 jabs in the
summer if virus is found to be circulating. I see 2010
as a year to vaccinate in the
hope that we wave goodbye to this virus and 2011 as
a year when I may not
need to.
If you are planning not to vaccinate in 2010
please think long and hard before
finalising your decision.
If you are planning to vaccinate,
book your vaccine with your vets now.
There is no Intervet
vaccine available in GB until the end of January at
the earliest. Merial vaccine is available, although
there has been no vaccine for the
last 3 weeks in the north of England. Vaccine manufacturers
and wholesalers are
wondering if there will be demand in 2010 and are showing
some reluctance to
hold stocks of vaccine.
PLEASE PLACE YOUR ORDER SO THAT
YOU ARE NOT DISAPPOINTED.
The risk is diminished, but
there is still a risk; let’s vaccinate and be
done with this
virus.
Best regards
Duff Burrell
NBA
Stakeholders Update 
BLUETONGUE
Guidance on the disease vector and potential
mitigation measures
The following guidance provides information on the
vectors that spread Bluetongue and the mitigation measures
that may be appropriate for some situations. Farmers
and veterinarians may wish to consider the following
advice.
The
Culicoides Midge
The Bluetongue virus is spread by
Culicoides species of midge.
There are 47 different species of
Culicoides but only a few species are
able to carry the virus. Some of these species
are present throughout the UK. The risk of
virus transmission is related to the
number of midges present.
Culicoides behaviour
-
Populations fluctuate,
and peak in May/June and September/October.
-
Daily
activity peaks at dusk/dawn.
-
Some of the most
widespread UK species breed around animal dung.
Culicoides mitigation measures
-
No insecticides
are authorised specifically to act against Culicoides
-
Deltamethrin-based
compounds have performed best in tests, however,
they only offer limited coverage of animals and provide
1-2 days protection at best.
-
Generic repellents are
only effective for a few hours at best.
-
Because they
do not entirely remove the risk of an animal contracting
bluetongue and their short period of protection,
in addition to economic and environmental considerations,
the Scottish Government does not advise insecticide use against Culicoides on
farms as a practical and cost-effective control measure against Bluetongue.
-
Although
the Scottish Government does not advise the use of
insecticides as a control measure, it supports it
application for short-term protection of animals
transiting through BTV restricted zones. Animals
and their vehicle must be sprayed prior to travel.
-
However,
in the event of an outbreak insecticide treatments
may be required for certain specific livestock movements.
-
Any
insecticides should be used in accordance with the
manufacturers instructions.
Culicoides breeding sites can be potentially
reduced by:
-
Moving dung heaps away from livestock (>50m
where possible), or covering heaps with a plastic,
watertight cover.
-
Scrape the perimeters of heaps/slurry
pits regularly to a depth of 6-10cms (where the majority
of larvae reside).
-
Housing of animals
in an enclosed space (where the means are available
to close doors, and cover entrances with mesh) during
peak periods of Culicoides activity may
reduce biting rates to a greater or lesser extent,
-
No
one measure will prevent midges biting animals. However,
the use of a combination of the measures listed above
will sequentially reduce the risk of midge bites
and hence reduce the risk animals becoming infected
with BTV.
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