Bluetongue crisis: Farmers in turmoil as disease spreads across Europe

Bluetongue disease is becoming a severe problem for animal breeders in Europe. In recent weeks, more and more countries are struggling with a rapid increase in the number of cases of this disease, leading to increasingly severe consequences. Authorities and farmers are taking extraordinary measures to prevent the further spread of the virus, but the situation is far from under control.

In Belgium, the situation is so serious that Agriculture Minister David Clarinval has declared cattle and sheep farming a crisis sector. This decision allows farmers affected by the epidemic to benefit from social insurance fee reductions in the third quarter of 2024.

In the Netherlands, the situation is even more dramatic. The number of disease cases increased there by over 1,500 within a week. Farmers are in panic and are appealing to the government for EU assistance. An additional problem in the Netherlands is the delayed disposal of dead animals.

Due to the increasing number of deaths, workers have to work 12-hour days, including weekends, to keep up with processing the carcasses. Delays in disposal can lead to severe health and environmental problems, further burdening farmers.

The virus has spread to almost all of Germany. According to the Animal Disease Information System (TSIS), since the outbreak of the epidemic on 12 October 2023, Germany has recorded 3,615 cases of the disease.

The first cases of the disease in 15 years have also been recorded in Denmark, where the virus has attacked sheep in southern Jutland. In response, Denmark has introduced restrictions on the import of animals from affected regions. Although vaccinations can alleviate the symptoms of the disease, they have not yet been widely implemented, raising concerns about the possible further spread of the epidemic.

France is also facing challenges related to the spread of bluetongue disease.

Marie-Bernadette Lemaire, a resident of Fontenelle in the Aisne region, runs a farm with about twenty goats and fifty sheep. Recently, she noticed symptoms of bluetongue disease in one of her sheep. The animal was visibly weakened, and foam was coming from its mouth. Despite the use of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs, the breeder fears that the animal will not survive.

In other parts of France, such as the Ardennes, breeders monitor their herds every day, trying to limit the spread of the virus. Jérôme Roland identified symptoms of the disease in some of his sheep but continued to vaccinate the remaining animals, trying to minimise losses.

Breeders are concerned that vaccinations started too late. Many believe that if preventive measures had been taken in the summer, the animals would have had a better chance of developing immunity before the onset of the epidemic.

One of those criticising delays in vaccine delivery and accusing the authorities of incompetence in crisis management is Bruno Miser, vice-president of the sheep breeders federation in the Ardennes. His situation is so severe that the number of sick and dead animals in his herd is increasing every day, causing him enormous stress.

Currently, my obsession is to check the animals daily, count the sick ones, and collect the dead ones - says Bruno Miser in an interview with lardennais.fr.

The Ministry of Agriculture has already taken action by ordering millions of doses of vaccines, but they have not arrived everywhere on time. Meanwhile, Michèle Boudoin, president of the National Sheep Federation, points out the need to provide breeders with PCR tests, allowing for more effective monitoring of the disease's spread. Unfortunately, in many regions of France, breeders have to bear the costs of vaccinations and tests, which further burdens them financially and mentally.

In the current circumstances, breeders have to deal not only with the direct effects of the disease but also with restrictions on animal movement, which hamper trade and business operations. For many of them, this means significant financial losses, which could threaten the continued existence of their farms.

Due to what is happening, markets are closing. Buyers will not take the risk of bringing in animals from a contaminated sector, admits Françoise Wanlin, whose 60-hectare farm has become unprofitable, forcing him to take another job.

Current regulations in France impose precautionary measures within a 150-kilometre radius around the outbreak area. Within this zone, the movement of animals exposed to the disease is restricted. To leave this area, sheep, cattle, and goats must have undergone insecticide treatment within the last two weeks and test negative in a screening test.

Traditionally, the disease is not contagious, meaning it does not spread directly from one animal to another. The virus is transmitted through bites from insects of the genus Culicoides, which infect animals through their blood.

Symptoms of the disease can vary and depend on the animal species, the strain of the virus, and other factors. These include:

• fever
• swelling of the head and neck
• ulceration of the mucous membranes, especially around the mouth, which can lead to a bluish tongue (hence the name of the disease)
• nasal and eye discharge
• difficulty breathing
• lameness caused by inflammation of the hoof coronet
• loss of appetite and weakness

It is worth noting that bluetongue disease is unrelated to animal tongue's colour. The name of the disease may be misleading, but it comes from one of the rare symptoms that can occur in advanced cases - cyanosis of the tongue. However, this is not a typical symptom of the disease.

There is no specific treatment for the disease, so the primary preventive measure is to control the insect population and use vaccines (two shots are needed three weeks apart) where possible. Preventing the disease also involves controlling animal movement and monitoring their health.

Humans cannot contract bluetongue disease. It is specific to animals and does not threaten human health. Therefore, the bluetongue virus is not a zoonosis, meaning it cannot be transmitted from animals to humans.