- Bluetongue virus likewise affects North West Mecklenburg's region.
Blue Tongue Disease Identified in Another County in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Just about two weeks following the identification of Blue Tongue Disease in livestock in the Ludwigslust-Parchim district, the county of Nordwestmecklenburg has now reported its first confirmed instance of this infectious illness. A pastime sheep farm in Groß Trebbow is experiencing issues. Here, two ewes are severely ill, with one testing positive for the BTV-3 virus, as per the district's announcement.
The affected sheep hadn't been vaccinated against the virus. The treatment for the infection can only offer limited relief. "Animals in good health usually fare better than weakened ones, but there can also be fatalities, especially in sheep," the district's statement noted.
Earlier in August, the first confirmed case of Blue Tongue Disease in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern since 2009 was reported in a dairy farm in the Ludwigslust-Parchim district. This disease is often fatal for sheep and goats, but harmless to humans. Consuming food is also safe.
Tiny Biting Insects are the Carriers
The disease isn't directly transmitted from animal to animal, but by tiny biting insects, known as Culicoides midges or no-see-ums.
The first outbreak of Blue Tongue Disease with serotype 3 in Germany was documented on October 12, 2023, in North Rhine-Westphalia - the first detection of this disease in the Federal Republic since 2021. Since then, there have been outbreaks in Lower Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Hesse. The number of cases in Germany surged significantly in July, according to the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute.
After the initial case in Nordwestmecklenburg, another county, [Other] in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, has also reported instances of Blue Tongue Disease. Despite the availability of vaccines, some farms choose not to immunize their livestock, potentially increasing their vulnerability to the virus.
