- Almost a hundred farmlands in the southwest region are experiencing Bluetongue outbreaks.
At least 94 livestock facilities and operations in Baden-Württemberg have now fallen victim to the Blue Orofacial Disease, with over 4,800 instances reported countrywide by the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute (FLI) as of August 23. Back in June, the Federal Research Institute for Animal Health noted only 13 instances nationwide. The exact number of infected animals in these affected facilities remains unknown, according to a spokesperson.
The Blue Orofacial Disease was first detected in sheep in the Rems-Murr district on August 8 and has since spread to other parts of southwestern Germany. For instance, the Rhein-Neckar district recently implemented quarantine and veterinary measures due to confirmed cases of this livestock illness. Farmers are advised to vaccinate their vulnerable livestock against the Blue Orofacial Disease.
The Blue Orofacial virus is transmitted by certain insects, predominantly affecting sheep, cows, bovines, South American camelids, goats, and wild ruminants. It is non-contagious to humans, and meat and dairy products from infected animals can be safely consumed.
The FLI attributes the current outbreak to the BTV-3 serotype of the virus. More cases and affected facilities are anticipated throughout the year, and the FLI anticipates that BTV-3 will continue to be a concern in 2024.
The Baden-Württemberg State Sheep Breeding Association warns that many in the industry are already feeling the pressure, with some on the brink of extinction, according to the association's managing director, Anette Wohlfarth.
Scrapped Performance in Markgröningen
The Blue Orofacial Disease has also impacted the Historical Shepherd's Run in Markgröningen (Ludwigsburg district). The traditional performance herding event, which was scheduled to commence the holiday weekend on Friday, has been cancelled due to the livestock disease. The rest of the event's program is set to continue as planned over the weekend and into Monday.
In just ten months, the Blue Orofacial virus has swept across Germany like a genuine viral tidal wave. As of Friday, Saxony has also been hit. Berlin remains the only federal state without any reported cases in livestock, according to the FLI.
There are roughly 10.6 million cattle in Germany (as of May), including approximately 3.7 million dairy cows. The vast majority of these cattle, over 75%, are concentrated in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Schleswig-Holstein.
The BTV-3 variant was first detected in the Netherlands in September 2023 and swiftly spread. The first case in Germany was confirmed in October 2023, on a sheep farm in North Rhine-Westphalia.
The Blue Orofacial Disease has not spared cattle, as they are also susceptible to this livestock illness, like bovines and goats. Despite the outbreak, it's important to note that meat and dairy products from infected animals can still be safely consumed.
