Bluetongue, a virus that affects cows and sheep, appeared on a cattle farm in the province of Alicante, specifically Orihuela. This is the first time this disease has been detected in the Valencian Community in 15 years. The incidence will require vaccination of all animals over three months old, both small and bovine, in the entire province of Alicante.The Ministry of Agriculture has already announced that it will receive the first 120,000 doses through a procedure it describes as an emergency. According to the latest data, there are around 90,000 registered animals of these species in the province..
The outbreak was detected by the official veterinary services of the Valencian Community on a sentry farm with 180 cows during a preventive check within the active surveillance program carried out at the national level. This was the fourth serotype of the virus, one of the serotypes in the previous incident. The animal farm in question is located on the border with Murcia, the region where the disease was declared at the end of 2023..
The Ministry of Agriculture immediately initiated prevention, surveillance and control measures in the region to prevent the spread of the disease.As stated in the 2024 annual zoo health plan. It has also established compulsory vaccination against the fourth serotype of bluetongue virus for all animals over the age of three months of the ovine and bovine species throughout the province of Alicante. For this purpose, urgent action will be taken to purchase the first 120 thousand doses of the vaccine. In this sense, it should be noted that according to provincial herd data, a total of 90,074 animals of both species were registered in this region in 2022, including 81,462 sheep and 9,512 cows.
Likewise, Tarım reminds us of the obligation to report any clinical suspicion compatible with the disease to official veterinary services. Official notification was also made to the European Commission and other autonomous communities and relevant sectors..
Bluetongue or sheep bluetongue is a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus Culicoides and belongs to the family Reoviridae. It affects wild and domestic ruminants, but in no case affects humans.. The severity of the disease in ruminants varies depending on the species and serotype. Symptoms can vary, and some animals develop minimal symptoms while others may exhibit moderate or severe symptoms. The most common symptoms are fever, mucuspurulent nasal discharge, crusting around the nostrils, edema in the head and neck, and difficulty breathing. The tongue may be cyanotic in some cases, which gives the disease its name. Severe cases can even lead to the death of the animal..
As well as its impact on health, bluetongue can also have detrimental effects on the livestock industry as it can affect meat and dairy production and limit animal movements and trade from affected areas.
Mobility
This will not initially be the case in the province of Alicante because, according to the Ministry’s reports, Vector is in the Seasonal Free Period (PEL). Movements of susceptible animals will not be affected at this time. Yes, the movements of those on the farm where the outbreak was detected may be restricted.
Neither the Alicante Veterinary College nor organizations such as Asaja could obtain information on the subject. However, Juan Luis Gimeno, head of the livestock sector of the second organization, said: He requested maximum control from the ministry to prevent the spread of the disease. “We are going through a bad enough period in the industry, and on top of that, such a virus affects us too,” he emphasizes.