Issued on behalf of Ruminant Health & Welfare
Defra has announced that we are now in a seasonally vector low period when midge activity is much lower, leading to some changes to disease control measures for BTV-3.
BTV-3 is the new strain of bluetongue currently being found in northern Europe and UK and is mainly transmitted via biting midge, affecting cattle, goats, sheep and camelids such as llamas.
“The current weather conditions and time of year mean that Culicoides – the type of midge able to spread viruses, such as BTV-3, are highly unlikely to transmit the virus to livestock,” explains Dr Marion England, Institute Fellow in Vector Ecology at The Pirbright Institute.
“Under these conditions, midges previously infected with BTV-3 are currently highly unlikely to transmit the virus.
“The most active period for midges is during the warmer months in spring, summer and autumn, and midges can become newly infected with bluetongue virus and spread disease when the weather is above 12° C for a sustained period.
“Midges infected in late autumn 2023 are now not likely to be a risk for spreading disease because they usually die off during winter, and are not actively biting when temperatures are below 4° C,” adds Dr England.
Because of the reduced risk of transmission between midges and animals, Defra has taken the decision not to cull infected animals where test results indicate older infection and the presence of BTV-3 antibodies.
Infected animals may still be restricted at their current locations and other disease mitigation measures taken as appropriate.
The reduced risk from midges means that some restrictions on movements of live animals from the Temporary Control Zones (TCZ) can now be eased if they meet certain conditions, including testing negative in a pre-movement test. A licence is required.
Some restrictions on movements of animals into and within the TCZ have also been eased.
For the latest update on BTV-3 and restrictions please visit the Ruminant Health & Welfare bluetongue hub that contains the most up to date information and signposts all of Defra and APHA’s latest updates; https://ruminanthw.org.uk/bluetongue-virus/.
Surveillance of susceptible animals and epidemiological assessments within the TCZ will continue. Defra will keep the situation under review.
The advice from Ruminant Health & Welfare remains three-fold, farmers need to beware, take action to report any signs, and always, remain vigilant.
Farmers can call the dedicated bluetongue hotline to get advice or ask questions linked to the current situation – call the bluetongue hotline on 024 7771 0386.
In the UK, bluetongue, including BTV-3, is a notifiable disease, so anyone suspecting the disease must take action and report it to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).
-ends-
Issued on behalf of Ruminant Health & Welfare by: Nina Stewart, Pinstone,
Pirbright links:
- https://www.pirbright.ac.uk/users/dr-marion-england
- https://www.pirbright.ac.uk/our-science/vector-ecology
Editor’s notes
Ruminant Health & Welfare was established to co-ordinate and focus the ruminant sector‘s drive in tackling endemic cattle, sheep and goat diseases across the UK, working with partners in the four nations.
We work with industry and governments to influence collective action and secure the policy framework and funding required to prevent, manage or control disease and welfare challenges across the ruminant sectors.
Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland already have protocols in place for many diseases, so Ruminant Health & Welfare’s role in these countries will be to assist existing bodies to deliver these priorities and share best practice.
Members comprise of key stakeholders as well as specialist expertise in ruminant disease, genetics and epidemiology.
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