Bluetongue virus crosses Austrian border
A fast-moving outbreak of bluetongue virus has spread to Austria.
A fast-moving outbreak of bluetongue virus has spread to Austria, bringing the number of bluetongue serotype four (BTV 4) positive countries within Europe to three, Farmers Weekly reports.
The disease was confirmed on Friday, 13 November and is limited to three farms in the eastern region of Burgenland, leaving around 1000 cattle susceptible.
The infected farms comprise of a 126-animal unit in Neusiedl, a 69-cow herd in Hartberg-Furstenfeld and a 10-cow herd in Jennersdorf.
Elsewhere, the same serotype has been reported in countries to the east of Austria - namely Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia.
Six cases have been reported in Romania in the past month, with a large goat herd labelled as "susceptible" and farms across the country being affected. Meanwhile, France continues to report cases of serotype one in central regions.
Austrian authorities have applied a host of control measures, including screening, zoning and movement controls. No affected livestock have been treated or vaccinated.
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
