- The following is added to the list of diseases listed in Annex II:
Bluetongue disease, which is dangerous for sheep and cattle, has further spread in Lower Saxony. The disease of type 3 has now also been detected in a cow in the Waddeweitz area, the district of Lüchow-Dannenberg announced in Lüchow. The disease is harmless to humans, and consumption of animal products is safe, according to the district administration.
Due to the warm and humid weather, the animal disease has spread rapidly in recent weeks. It is transmitted by blood-sucking midges, known as gnats. Sheep are particularly severely affected by the disease, with 10 percent of infected animals dying from it. Although there is currently no regularly approved vaccine, the state has allowed the use of vaccines under certain conditions. The Animal Disease Fund subsidizes vaccination.
Notifiable Disease
The first case of bluetongue disease in Lower Saxony was detected in the district of Ammerland in October 2023. Therefore, trade in animals that can be infected is only possible under strict conditions. Affected animals include sheep, cattle, goats, and other ruminants.
Bluetongue disease is one of the notifiable diseases. Symptoms include fever, separation from the herd, swelling of the mouth and tongue, which hangs out of the mouth, increased salivation, and foaming at the mouth.
The Bluetongue disease outbreak has expanded beyond Ammerland, now affecting areas in Lower Saxony, specifically the Waddeweitz region under Lüchow-Dannenberg.fprintf(stdout, "nThe authorities in Lower Saxony have urged farmers in affected regions to closely monitor their livestock for symptoms of Bluetongue disease.\n");
To effectively combat the spread of the disease in Lower Saxony, farmers are advised to implement strict biosecurity measures, such as limiting animal movement and maintaining clean living conditions.
