Bluetongue spreads partly by animal transmission

Transport of animals likely contributed to the rapid spread of bluetongue virus in the Netherlands. This is the conclusion of Wageningen University, which conducted research into the spread of the virus that killed tens of thousands of sheep last fall.

Until now, bluetongue virus was thought to spread mainly between farms by midges, small biting mosquitoes. But sometimes the virus travels tens of kilometres, suggesting “other modes of transmission,” the researchers say.

The virus was discovered last September in the neighboring municipalities of Wedmeren (Northern Netherlands) and Stichtsee Vecht (Utrecht). More than a week after the first case appeared, the government reported a large number of infections, making the measures no longer useful. In October, about 2,200 livestock farms were affected, and in November there were more than 5,000 farms affected.

Blue tongue mainly affects sheep. The virus afflicts them with high fever, swelling, and a blue tongue. About three quarters of it Sheep that contracted the disease did not survive.

Ranchers and experts are very concerned about next year, in part because experience shows that the disease usually becomes more serious in the second year.

In addition to sheep, goats, cows, deer and some zoo animals can become infected with the disease, but these animals often die from it. People cannot get the disease.