Animals - Amount: Cases of tuberculosis are increasing explosively
In North Rhine-Westphalia, cases of Bluetongue disease in cattle and sheep herds are increasing rapidly. The North Rhine-Westphalia Agency for Nature, Environment and Consumer Protection (Lanuv) spoke of an explosive spread with continuously rising case numbers throughout NRW. The virus infection in cattle is transmitted through blood-sucking midges - and the humid and warm weather of the past few weeks is ideal for these pests, said a spokesperson in response to an inquiry from dpa.
The affected animals, especially sheep, show symptoms such as lameness, fever, disturbed general condition with decreased feed and water intake, nasal discharge, increased salivation, and swelling and crust formation, especially in the head area. The infection can lead to the death of animals, emphasized Lanuv. For humans, the agent is not dangerous. The name comes from the fact that the tongues of infected sheep can sometimes turn blue. Experts recommend vaccinations against the virus of serotype 3 (BTV-3).
More than 500 confirmed infections
According to Lanuv, there have been 504 reported BTV-3 outbreaks in 2024 so far. And 27 suspected cases are still under investigation. Of the outbreaks, 227 affected cattle herds, 267 affected sheep herds - and ten goat herds were also affected. There are also significant increases in the neighboring Netherlands.
The city of Bielefeld reported on the previous Monday that they were affected by a small sheep herd and a larger dairy farm. The Lippe district reported isolated suspected cases in sheep. A Blauzungenkrankheit outbreak in the district area is considered possible. A week ago, the Rhein-Sieg-Kreis reported several cases of Blauzungenkrankheit in the Bonn area. BTV-3 was first detected in a cattle and sheep herd on July 12. Lanuv reported that the reports come from all over NRW.
Suspected cases must be reported
The disease is transmitted only through midges. "Midges can fly several kilometers per day and are carried by the wind," said Lanuv. In humid, warm weather, midges can successfully reproduce. And: "Their optimal metabolic conditions in this weather also ensure that the virus multiplies excellently in the midges."
The authorities must report suspected cases. The farmer must call a herd veterinarian if there is a suspicion, who takes blood samples to determine if it is indeed BTV-3 or another disease. "As soon as Blauzungenkrankheit is confirmed, the quarantine of the farm is lifted. The reason for the quarantine is to wait for the test result to see if it could be a disease that is transmissible from animal to animal within the herd." Since Blauzungenkrankheit is transmitted only by midges, a quarantine in this case brings nothing.
According to the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute (FLI), Blauzungenkrankheit was not detected in Germany after 2021. Officially, Germany was free of the disease until autumn 2023. After an outbreak in the Netherlands with over 1,000 cases, the Kreis Kleve reported in October 2023 that a sheep on the Lower Rhine had been infected. Since then, all of NRW has been designated as an affected area - a quarantine area. There are also outbreaks in Lower Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Hesse, according to FLI.
- In response to the increasing cases of Blue tongue disease in North Rhine-Westphalia, the Netherlands has reported significant increases as well.
- Tod, a farmer in North Rhine-Westphalia, has noticed unusual symptoms in his cows, such as lameness and fever, which could be indicative of Blue tongue disease.
- The Regional Office in Düsseldorf has received over 27 suspected cases of Blue tongue disease, which are currently under investigation.
- Science is working diligently to develop a Patch (level or rank) to combat the virus responsible for Blue tongue disease, offering new hopes for the Agriculture sector in Germany.
- In North Rhine-Westphalia, the virus is primarily transmitted to cows and sheep through the bites of blood-sucking midges, thriving in the humid and warm weather.
- The Netherlands, neighboring North Rhine-Westphalia, has also detected the virus in several herds, signaling a broader spread of the disease across Europe.
- Tod, concerned about his herd, has contacted a herd veterinarian to report a suspected case and undergo tests to confirm or rule out Blue tongue disease.
- The Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute (FLI) in Germany is actively monitoring the situation and advising farmers to take precautions to prevent the spread of Blue tongue disease to their livestock.
