12 January 2012 – Schmallenberg virus: a novel viral disease of cattle, sheep and goats in northern mainland Europe
On February 7 AHVLA released results from further testing which reveal the presence of Schmallenberg virus in a further 22 submissions which means that the disease has now been identified in 33 submissions from 29 farms. Today’s results show the first positive case in a bovine in West Sussex. There is also a first positive submission from a premises in Hertfordshire. All other positive cases were in counties where previous cases have occurred.
Figures correct for week ending 5 Feb 2012
| County | Submissions with confirm infection (based on clinical signs and virus identification) |
||
| Sheep | Cattle | Goats | |
| Norfolk | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Suffolk | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Essex | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Kent | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| East Sussex | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| West Sussex | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 32 | 1 | 0 |
Update on 31 January 2012
AHVLA released results from further testing which reveal the presence of Schmallenberg virus at a further seven sheep farms in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Kent. This brings the current total to 11 positive submissions.
Figures correct for week ending 25 Jan 2012
| County | Submissions with confirmed infection (based on clinical signs and virus identification) |
||
| Sheep | Cattle | Goats | |
| Norfolk | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Suffolk | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Essex | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Kent | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| East Sussex | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 11 | 0 | 0 |
The Health Protection Agency has published information about schmallenberg virus.
Update on 23 January 2012
AHVLA reported the presence of Schmallenberg virus (SBV) on four sheep farms in Norfolk, Suffolk and East Sussex. Last week we obtained samples from animals with clinical signs consistent with SBV infection via our Regional Laboratory network. The samples were analysed at the Virology Laboratory, AHVLA Weybridge based on information provided by the Netherlands and the Friedrich Loeffler Institute.
Specific RT-PCR products were detected by two independent means from two different genes of SBV. Along with the sequence information we have obtained, all combined with the clinical picture seen, we consider this now provides a sufficient level of laboratory confirmation to conclude that SBV has been detected in GB sheep.
Figures correct for week ending 18 Jan 2012
| County | Confirmed premises (based on clinical signs and virus identification) |
||
| Sheep | Cattle | Goats | |
| Norfolk | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Suffolk | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| East Sussex | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Update on 12 January 2012
Since August 2011, both the Netherlands and Germany have reported outbreaks of a disease in cattle, with clinical signs including fever, reduced milk yield, inappetence, loss of body condition and, principally in Dutch herds, diarrhoea. Herds experienced outbreaks of disease lasting 2-3 weeks, with individual affected animals recovering over several days. More recently (November 2011 onwards) there have been reports of miscarriages and stillbirths associated with congenital (present at birth) abnormalities affecting mainly sheep but also cattle and goats. Tests carried out on cases in Germany and the Netherlands have identified a novel virus that has tentatively been named Schmallenberg virus (SBV). This virus appears to belong to a group of viruses that are spread by insect vectors, principally midges and mosquitoes, although a vector that may be responsible for transmission of SBV has not been identified yet.
According to an initial risk assessment carried out by public health authorities in the Netherlands and a follow-up risk assessment by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, although there are still some uncertainties, the risk to human health from SBV is likely to be very low. Nevertheless, farmers and veterinary surgeons are advised to take sensible hygiene precautions when working with livestock.
Further information, including an AHVLA briefing note on the current situation can be found on the international disease monitoring page on the Defra website. Please contact your local AHVLA Regional Laboratory or SAC Disease Surveillance Centre if you require further guidance or information.
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