Bluetongue Disease Hits Dutch Dairy Sector Despite Vaccine Rollout, USDA FAS Reports
Source: DairyNews.today
In September 2023, bluetongue disease made a troubling return to the Netherlands after a 14-year absence, according to a report by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). The disease, spread by biting midges (Culicoides spp.), was identified as bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV-3). This viral infection primarily affects ruminants such as sheep, cattle, goats, and alpacas, causing significant health issues and economic losses in the livestock sector.
By the end of 2023, the outbreak had impacted 4,300 farms, with 1,990 sheep farms and 2,200 cattle farms reporting infections. An additional 1,579 locations showed signs of the disease but had not undergone official testing. The disease has proven particularly deadly for sheep, with 51,819 reported deaths by the year's end. Symptoms in sheep include lethargy, lameness, oral lesions, and severe facial swelling, with a mortality rate reaching 73.3% among infected sheep in September 2023.
For cattle, while the disease rarely results in death, it significantly affects health and fertility, leading to a noticeable decline in milk production—averaging a reduction of almost 1 kg per cow per day over a 9 to 10-week period. This reduction has raised concerns within the Dutch dairy sector, which is already under pressure from other challenges.
In response to the outbreak, the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (AFFN) authorized three bluetongue vaccines in late April 2024. By June 2024, an estimated 90-95% of sheep had been vaccinated. However, the vaccination rate for cattle remains uncertain and is presumed to be lower. Despite the rollout of vaccines, the effectiveness of the immunization efforts has come into question, particularly following a second outbreak in mid-June 2024, which saw a rapid increase in cases, reaching 3,807 by mid-August 2024.
The disease’s spread has not been confined to the Netherlands, with neighboring countries like Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, France, and Denmark also reporting cases. In Belgium, cases surged from 82 to 677 within two weeks, while Germany reported 1,885 cases.
The re-emergence of bluetongue has added to the woes of Dutch sheep farmers, who are also dealing with the increased threat of wolf attacks. The Dutch Organization for Sheep Farming has raised concerns about the financial impact on the sector and has urged the Minister of AFFN to address the situation. The Minister has promised to commission a study into the financial consequences of the disease on sheep farming.
The rapid spread of bluetongue, despite vaccination efforts, has led to concerns about the vaccine’s efficacy. Preliminary research suggests that while the clinical symptoms in vaccinated animals are milder than in previous outbreaks, there is still uncertainty regarding the impact on mortality rates. The Dutch House of Representatives has called for additional measures to mitigate the spread of the disease, with farmers hoping for a colder winter to help eliminate the midges and prevent the virus from returning in the spring.
As the situation evolves, the Dutch agricultural sector remains on high alert, with the potential for significant long-term implications for both sheep and dairy farming if the disease continues to spread.
For cattle, while the disease rarely results in death, it significantly affects health and fertility, leading to a noticeable decline in milk production—averaging a reduction of almost 1 kg per cow per day over a 9 to 10-week period. This reduction has raised concerns within the Dutch dairy sector, which is already under pressure from other challenges.
In response to the outbreak, the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (AFFN) authorized three bluetongue vaccines in late April 2024. By June 2024, an estimated 90-95% of sheep had been vaccinated. However, the vaccination rate for cattle remains uncertain and is presumed to be lower. Despite the rollout of vaccines, the effectiveness of the immunization efforts has come into question, particularly following a second outbreak in mid-June 2024, which saw a rapid increase in cases, reaching 3,807 by mid-August 2024.
The disease’s spread has not been confined to the Netherlands, with neighboring countries like Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, France, and Denmark also reporting cases. In Belgium, cases surged from 82 to 677 within two weeks, while Germany reported 1,885 cases.
The re-emergence of bluetongue has added to the woes of Dutch sheep farmers, who are also dealing with the increased threat of wolf attacks. The Dutch Organization for Sheep Farming has raised concerns about the financial impact on the sector and has urged the Minister of AFFN to address the situation. The Minister has promised to commission a study into the financial consequences of the disease on sheep farming.
The rapid spread of bluetongue, despite vaccination efforts, has led to concerns about the vaccine’s efficacy. Preliminary research suggests that while the clinical symptoms in vaccinated animals are milder than in previous outbreaks, there is still uncertainty regarding the impact on mortality rates. The Dutch House of Representatives has called for additional measures to mitigate the spread of the disease, with farmers hoping for a colder winter to help eliminate the midges and prevent the virus from returning in the spring.
As the situation evolves, the Dutch agricultural sector remains on high alert, with the potential for significant long-term implications for both sheep and dairy farming if the disease continues to spread.
23.09.2024
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