Bluetongue cases surge amid vaccine skepticism

The insect-borne bluetongue virus has now been found on more than 503 sheep farms in the Netherlands, and the effectiveness of the two vaccines currently used to fight the disease has been questioned.

In April, then Agriculture Minister Piet Adema Fast Track But despite the subsequent vaccination campaign, the number of infections has increased from 94 last week to more than 500 at the beginning of this week. figure Data from food safety regulator NVWA shows.

Most of the affected farms are located in the provinces of Overijssel, Gelderland, North Brabant and Limburg.

The bluetongue virus was first discovered in four sheep farms in the Netherlands in early September last year and has since spread to hundreds of sheep farms across the country. This is the first time the disease, which does not pose a threat to humans, has been found in the Netherlands since 2009.

After a winter with few cases, the virus broke out again in June. It is not yet clear whether the vaccine is not working, or whether its effectiveness has diminished over time. The CBG, the drug evaluation body, has called on all sheep farmers to report cases of bluetongue in vaccinated sheep.

Agriculture Minister Femke Wiersma has called for an investigation into the development of the disease in vaccinated animals. A spokesman for the GD laboratory, which is responsible for the study, told reporters: “It is not clear how the disease develops when multiple vaccines are used.” advertise.

Farmers’ group LTO said it had received several reports of deaths among vaccinated sheep but said it was too early to draw conclusions.

Bluetongue disease is spread by infected blackflies and can be fatal. feature Symptoms include high fever, swollen lips, and redness of the lining of the mouth and tongue. Goats, cattle, and deer can also be infected.