Culicoides sonorensis, bluetongue disease biting midge
I’ve just heard that Bluetongue Disease has been found on a farm in Devon, not million miles from here.
‘A total of eight heifers at the farm in Tiverton have tested positive for the non-contagious virus.
The animals were among a consignment of 35 Holstein heifers imported from Germany within the last week.
The cases were detected by routine testing, which is carried out on all bluetongue susceptible animals arriving from continental Europe.’
So says the BBC online news. It goes on to say
‘The heifers were transported from a bluetongue protection zone in Germany to Devon, itself within a protection zone.
A Defra statement said: “It is not unexpected to find infected animals in the protection zone.
“There is no evidence to suggest that the virus is circulating between local midge and animal populations in the local areas.
“Full epidemiological investigations are underway.” ‘
I am very puzzled. Why weren’t the heifers tested before they left Germany?
And why ‘is it not unexpected to find infected animals in a protection zone’?
Are DEFRA forgetting they made the majority of England part of the protection zone so they could bend EU rules and allow a vaccination programme to be put in place? It was not, in the majority of counties, because there were infected midges and animals in those areas.
Could this be an experiment to see if the vaccine holds up under fire? Oh, oh those damn conspiracy theories! But remember we’ve all been told it only needs one midge to have a blood meal from an infected animal for the disease to go on the rampage.
I was beginning to feeling quietly confident that England’s firewall of vaccinated animals was giving us the protection we needed from the continental wind blown Culicoides midge. Arriving on our shores by its own volition is something we can do very little about, apart from vaccination and being prepared as best we can. But to import the disease? Now? When midges are at their hight? This takes the biscuit.
So, very well done someone out there. I hope you’re pleased with yourself. My nice little security blanket’s been stripped away. Maybe my worry is completely unfounded, I sure hope so.
sheep suffering with bluetongue disease
14 comments
Comments feed for this article
August 29, 2008 at 8:44 pm
mary
I do hope that the disease found in these infected animals has been isolated and that there is no spread.
This was on our local SE News.
http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2008/080827a.htm
I do not understand why the import of animals from injected areas is allowed. I am sorry that it seems there is always something for you to worry about.
August 29, 2008 at 9:26 pm
colouritgreen
!! they test them after the animals arrive here? oh for goodness sake.. isn’t it clear they should be tested before leaving? *sigh*
August 29, 2008 at 9:57 pm
heidi
Why didn’t they test them In Germany before they were imported?
I would think most farmers would rather have all imported livestock be tested before they got to Britain, regardless of protection zone status.
Iam stunned, what the hell are the people in power thinking?
“Well it’s here anyways, what’s a few more infected cows.”
It is a horrific disease, and that poor sheep…Who would not want to make sure that disease was stopped at the border?
Iam so sorry.
August 30, 2008 at 6:21 am
Mopsa
I heard about this last night at friends…I was so hoping that it was mistaken
First Avian flu from imported chickens, now this… for goodness sake, keep it local.
August 30, 2008 at 8:42 am
paula
Mary – what is going on? I’m completely non plussed. I hope the worry is just that and no more.
August 30, 2008 at 8:45 am
paula
So blooming obvious citg.
August 30, 2008 at 8:50 am
paula
Yes, yes, yes heidi – logic, common sense? Na – let’s not bother with that and all the money that’s been spent vaccinating, let’s stir things up a little.
August 30, 2008 at 8:52 am
paula
Mopsa it’s screamingly obvious…we can all see it. What are they playing at?
August 30, 2008 at 5:38 pm
elizabethm
Astonishing. The lunatics are undoubtedly in charge. Fingers and everything crossed for you.
August 31, 2008 at 7:29 am
Jane
The worries about all these diseases must always be near the surface, especially when idiots let something like this happen. I’m keeping everything crossed…
August 31, 2008 at 9:38 pm
paula
It beggars belief elizabethm, and thanks too.
August 31, 2008 at 9:42 pm
paula
I heard something even more disturbing today Jane – a vet has been advising some farmers that’s it’s not really necessary to vaccinate – I was incredulous.
September 10, 2008 at 1:36 pm
LittleFfarm Dairy
I just wish we COULD vaccinate….!
There have been problems with obtaining vaccine, here in Wales. Some vets have been told they can only get the 100-dose bottles from Meriel (responsible from last year’s FMD outbreak) – but not for at least another fortnight. Good news is, at least it’s 30p per dose cheaper; but if you’re a smallholder with only a dozen sheep or a couple of alpacas, a horrendously expensive option.
Meanwhile our vet has managed to get hold of Intervet’s 20-dose bottles; & we’d happily buy them – NOW – but have been told that “someone else with fewer animals might need them” so mainstream farmers – whose livelihoods depend on keeping large numbers of animals healthy & protected from disease/virus outbreaks, can’t vaccinate until those with only a handful of stock, usually with other careers to cushion the blow of losing animals, can vaccinate in smaller batches. I’m fully prepared to pay at whatever cost, to protect our animals – NOW – so why can’t I…?!
But apparently I have to join the queue for the Meriel vaccine, by which time we’ll be right into the most vulnerable time of year regarding BTV. And goats (like cattle) require not one but two doses of the vaccine…..& thus won’t be fully protected until several weeks after the second injection; by which time the viral midge season will have come & gone, & all my wonderful Milkforce, could have contracted this vile virus, suffered horribly, & had to be destroyed.
And all because of heel-dragging bureaucrats – at least, that’s how it feels.
September 11, 2008 at 8:03 pm
paula
Do you know what jo – I was told by a local farmer that he’d been advised by his vet NOT to vaccinate! I was speechless! I told him that he should go back home and begin right away…I mean I couldn’t believe what I’d heard.
I would be tearing my hair out if I was in your position. I couldn’t get to the vets quick enough when it became available. It sounds a rather nightmarish muddle. I do hope you will be able to get the stuff very soon and at least have some peace of mind Milkforce will be protected.