Vaccination the only defence against bluetongue, says IAH

Bluetongue disease could have a disastrous effect on the livestock sector in Great Britain if it re-emerges with the same virulence witnessed in northern Europe last year.


The stark message on the threat posed by bluetongue was issued by experts from the Institute for Animal Health at a joint NFU/IAH conference on the disease held on Thursday (17 January).


The message was clear: vaccination is the only protection and unless a minimum of 80% of the country’s ruminant livestock are vaccinated then the economic consequences would be severe.


IAH bluetongue research leader Chris Oura was unequivocal in his message. “I want to get the message across: This is a really serious disease. 2007 is no reflection of what might happen in 2008.”


He told the 85 NFU members attending that a relatively small outbreak in Germany during 2006, although considered bad at the time, was trivial compared to the 300 premises a day being infected at the peak of the 2007 outbreak.


“We were lucky in 2007 we got it late so it didn’t take hold. 2008 may be very different,” said Dr Oura.


Belgium



In Belgium last year the disease led to 41.9% mortality in sheep meaning that many producers there have now withdrawn from sheep production. And in cattle many producers reported re-absorption of foetuses, abortion, a general decline in animal health and sterility of sires.


As it became apparent to those producers attending that vaccination was the only real defence against this debilitating disease and its severe economic consequences, focus turned to what shape a vaccination strategy might take and whether a vaccine would be available in sufficient quantities.


The DEFRA observer present confirmed that the department is formulating a suitable strategy in conjunction with stakeholders and experts at the IAH, but its direction would continue to be influenced by the emergence of new cases unturned by the department’s surveillance work and the results of any pre-movement tests performed for producers.


Vaccination



However, vaccination will, almost certainly, be on a voluntary, rather than compulsory, basis and producers inside the protection zone would be the first to be offered the chance to protect stock.


Then, livestock in a “buffer zone” outside the protection zone (probably about 20km wide) would be treated next and the buffer zone would gradually edge west until England is covered.


However, no one in attendance could estimate how long it would take to cover England or that the minimum 80% coverage needed to ensure success would be achieved. Peer pressure and the role of the media in conveying this important message was the put forward as the only means of encourage participation.


To see videos of the conference speakers visit the NFU website at by clicking here and click on the ‘Bluetongue special’ link