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Published Date: 2012-02-16 03:09:33
Subject: PRO/AH> Schmallenberg virus - Europe (17): update
Archive Number: 20120216.1043129

SCHMALLENBERG VIRUS - EUROPE (17): UPDATE
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In this update

[1] UK update

[2] France update 

[3] Netherlands update



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[1] UK update

Date: Wed 15 Feb 2012
Source: The cattle site [edited]
http://www.thecattlesite.com/news/37451/40-farms-identified-with-schmallenberg-in-uk


40 farms identified with Schmallenberg in UK
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Schmallenberg virus (SBV) has now been identified in samples submitted from 40 farms in the south and east of England, across the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, and Hertfordshire.

All of the counties where SBV infection has been identified are in the zones recognised as potentially at risk from infected midges being blown across last summer from affected areas in northern mainland Europe.

With the exception of one SBV positive cattle sample from a farm in West Sussex, all of the GB cases of SBV infection have been diagnosed in sheep to date.

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[For a Farmers Weekly video presenting Professor Peter Mertens, head of vectorborne diseases at the Institute for Animal Health on the work being done to tackle SBV see 
http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/11/02/2012/131406/VIDEO-Scientist-discusses-work-on-Schmallenberg-virus.htm. - Mod.AS]

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[2] France update 
Date: Tue 14 Feb 2012
Source: Agence France Presse via Naharnet newsdesk [summarised, edited]
http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/30030-94-french-farms-struck-by-new-schmallenberg-virus


A total of 94 farms in northern France have been hit by a novel virus, 1st uncovered in Germany last year, that strikes cattle, sheep and goats, a French research agency reported on Tuesday [14 Feb 2012].

The Schmallenberg virus, named after the town in Germany where it first surfaced, causes diarrhea and falling milk production in cattle and fetal defects in lambs, calves and kids, the Centre for International Cooperation in Agricultural Development Research (Cirad) said. In addition to France and Germany, cases have also occurred in Belgium, Britain and the Netherlands, it said.

The Paris-based World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), which monitors cross-border trade in farm animals, said it was closely following events. The virus is not a "listed disease," the OIE told AFP, referring to diseases that require member-states to notify the agency whenever they detect an outbreak.

However, "countries have been very proactive and transparent in notifying the OIE of the appearance of the Schmallenberg virus on their territories. Disease surveillance and control has proven to work very well," it said. "The OIE is monitoring the situation very closely and has decided to convene a group of experts this week to review the current knowledge."

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[3] Netherlands update
Date: Tue 14 Feb 2012
Source: OIE-WAHID interface, weekly disease information Vol 25, No 7 [summarised] 
http://web.oie.int/wahis/public.php?page=event_summary&reportid=11447


[The Dutch follow-up report number 5, submitted 14 Feb 2012, including an interactive map, is available on line at the above URL.

As of 15 Feb 2012, the total number of SBV-confirmed holdings in the Netherlands is 103: 4 in cattle, 94 in sheep, 5 in goats. See the current map at http://www.vwa.nl/txmpub/files/?p_file_id=2201854. - Mod.AS]

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[Video presentations on SBV are available at the following URL's: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtZ7kDTQWMM&feature=player_embedded (German)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgo8jAn1muI (English) 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rbq7auUnu3M&NR=1&feature=endscreen (Dutch)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=jmpAN8I9qGA&NR=1 (Dutch)

For EU's SBV web-site, which includes also links to the relevant websites of the 5 affected countries and their respective updates, please go to http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/diseases/schmallenberg_virus/index_en.htm. - Mod.AS]

See Also

Schmallenberg virus - Europe (16): update, OIE 20120211.1038921
Schmallenberg virus - Europe (15): update, OIE 20120207.1035481
Schmallenberg virus - Europe (14): update 20120204.1033086
Schmallenberg virus - Europe (13): update, international aspects 20120201.1027941
Schmallenberg virus - Europe (12): France confirmed, update 20120128.1025004]
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