- Bluetongue disease instances surpass the half mark in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW)
Germany has seen the most instances of the typically bovine and ovine carried bluetongue disease across the country, as stated by data from the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute (FLI) (up till August 23rd). Nationwide, there are 4,831 infected animals, with approximately half of them, 2,465 cases, located in North Rhine-Westphalia.
The bluetongue disease-causing agent has spread throughout the nation within a span of ten months. So far, Berlin is the only federal state devoid of confirmed cases in animals. It's important to note that this disease isn't transmissible to humans. Consumption of meat and dairy products from susceptible animals to bluetongue isn't a concern.
The reported cases have seen a significant increase in recent weeks. While the FLI logged 13 cases nationwide in June, there were over 1,200 instances in July. The number of infections climbed to over 4,800 by August 23rd.
First identified instance in Germany in October 2023
As per the FLI, the epidemic's root cause is a specific serotype BTV-3 of the pathogen. This variant first emerged in the Netherlands in September 2023 and spread swiftly. The initial confirmation of the disease in Germany occurred in October 2023, on a sheep farm situated in North Rhine-Westphalia.
As per the German Farmers' Association, there exists around 10.6 million cattle in Germany (as of May), including approximately 3.7 million dairy cows. The combined share of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Schleswig-Holstein exceeds 75% of the cattle population.
The bluetongue virus transmits via particular types of midges. Sheep, cattle, South American camelids, goats, and wild boar are particularly susceptible to it.
The spread of the bluetongue disease-causing agent has affected various parts of Germany, not just North Rhine-Westphalia. Agriculture in affected regions may require additional disease prevention measures.
The bluetongue disease outbreak in Germany has raised concerns in the agricultural sector, as millions of cattle, including dairy cows, are at potential risk.
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