Press release
Minister McConalogue warns of the risk of bluetongue
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D., has warned that Irish livestock are at risk from bluetongue disease and has reminded farmers to report any suspect cases to the Department promptly.
Bluetongue has now spread widely across eastern England, with additional isolated cases detected recently in Somerset in south-west England and Gwynedd in north-west Wales. The disease has also spread across continental Europe, including France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, and Norway. Bluetongue poses a major threat to the Irish cattle and sheep industries, causing substantial losses to farmers and industry in countries which have experienced outbreaks.
Minister McConalogue said:
“It is clear that the risk of spread to Ireland has increased as the disease comes closer to our shores. Early detection of any outbreak in Ireland will be crucial to help us prevent onward spread. For that reason, I ask all farmers to report any suspect cases of bluetongue promptly. If we can detect and respond to an incursion at an early stage, we have a better chance of stopping its spread and protecting cattle and sheep across the country.”
The Minister added
“My Department is continuing to carry out a range of surveillance and risk-reducing activities, including increased active surveillance of higher risk animals, targeted surveillance, and awareness campaigns. I want to remind anyone involved in trading in and transport of livestock to and from affected areas and countries, to support these actions and work closely with their local Regional Veterinary Office.”
Bluetongue is a viral disease affecting cattle, sheep, goats, alpacas and other ruminants and camelids. Bluetongue does not pose a food safety or public health risk. It is spread between animals by biting midges. There are many different serotypes. Bluetongue virus 3 (BTV-3) is currently the most serious threat. It has been spreading rapidly across north-western Europe since last autumn. The high-risk period in Ireland runs from spring until late autumn when midges are most abundant.
It is crucial to report any suspicion of bluetongue to the local Regional Veterinary Office (RVO) without delay.
More information on bluetongue can be found on the Department’s website: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/cd6c0-bluetongue-virus/
ENDS
Notes for the Editor:
• Bluetongue Virus (BTV) is a notifiable disease, meaning that there is a legal obligation for any suspect case to be reported to the Department. If the presence of bluetongue is suspected on a holding, the herdowner should contact their local Regional Veterinary Office without delay (during office hours) or the National Disease Emergency Hotline on: (01) 492 8026 outside of office hours.
• Ireland is currently BTV-free. An outbreak of BTV in Ireland would have a significant impact on the Irish livestock sector. The disease could spread to Ireland and circulate through import of infected animals, infected foetuses, germinal products or wind dispersal of infected midges from mainland Europe.
• Bluetongue virus can infect and cause severe clinical signs in ruminant species (including sheep, cattle, goats and deer) and camelids (such as llama and alpaca).
These clinical signs include:
o Fever
o Inappetence (loss or lack of appetite)
o Drop in milk yield
o Reddening of the mucus membranes
o Sores on the nose, gum and dental pads
o Swelling of the face, lips and tongue (i.e.“bluetongue”)
o Breathing difficulties if the tongue swells
o Drooling
o Discharge from the eyes and/or nose
o Lameness
o Abortion or deformities in offspring/foetus
o In severe cases, death can result
• The virus is spread by infected biting midges (Culicoides species) which are present in Ireland and are generally most active between April and November.
• An outbreak of bluetongue in Ireland may result in the establishment of large disease control zones of 150km radius being introduced with movement and export restrictions applied to animals originating from within these zones.
• The loss of our bluetongue-free status could also impact our ability to trade with countries outside of the EU.
• As part of its surveillance programme the Department samples all ruminant animals & camelids post-entry from Europe for BTV, regardless of the BTV status of country of origin.