Animals - Fall of whooping cough in Rhein-Sieg-District
The Rhin-Sieg-District around Bonn reports several cases of Bluetongue disease. According to a press release, several businesses are affected. On July 12, 2024, the Bluetongue virus of serotype 3 (BTV-3) was first detected in a cattle and sheep herd.
"It is to be expected that the Bluetongue virus will spread extensively in the susceptible animal herds in the Rhin-Sieg-District", says Silvia Berger from the Veterinary Office of the District according to the statement. Affected businesses are sealed off and may not transport animals to other businesses. The District urges farmers to report suspected cases promptly.
Germany was officially disease-free
Officially, Germany was disease-free until autumn 2023. After an outbreak in the Netherlands with over 1,000 cases, the district Cleve reported an infection in a sheep on the Lower Rhine in October. As a result, the entire North Rhine-Westphalia was designated as a quarantine area.
Bluetongue disease was not detected in Germany after 2021, the Federal Republic was officially disease-free until then. For humans, the pathogen is not dangerous. It primarily affects Cattle and Sheep.
Bluetongue disease is a virus disease in ruminants that is transmitted through small, blood-sucking midges. Affected sheep can suffer from loss of appetite, apathy, and fever, and the disease can be fatal. Sometimes a bluish discoloration of the tongue in sheep is visible.
Press release Rhein-Sieg-District
- The press release from the Rhin-Sieg-District warns farmers in the area to be vigilant due to the widespread expectation of Bluetongue virus spread.
- The first case of BTV-3 in Germany was reported in a cattle and sheep herd located in Siegburg, which is part of the Rhin-Sieg-District.
- Despite being disease-free since 2021, Germany encountered another Bluetongue outbreak in the Rhineland-Sieg District near Bonn in 2024.
- The city of Cologne, located in North Rhine-Westphalia, is not far from the affected areas, and livestock farming businesses in Cologne may be impacted due to the ongoing Bluetongue disease.
- The Rhineland-Sieg District has urged farmers to report any suspicions of Bluetongue disease as promptly as possible to prevent further spread of the disease.
- The press release highlights the importance of taking measures to protect livestock and manage Bluetongue disease, particularly in regions like Lower Rhine and North Rhine-Westphalia, where cattle and sheep farming is significant.
- Researchers in Germany are working diligently on new methods of managing and preventing Bluetongue disease, using the latest scientific advancements, to protect Germany's livestock industries in the future.
