SBV infections may be on the rise
Outbreaks of the Schmallenberg virus (SBV) is again a concern for the Disease Monitoring (IDM) team at Defra, who are urging farmers to be vigilant for signs of the infection in their cattle.
The virus is strongly connected with the number of windborne midges in the area, a number set to rise due to the more settled weather. Counties in southern England, especially Kent, are the only areas reported to have been affected by the virus in the UK before, according to IDM.
The team are now urging farmers to monitor their cattle for clinical signs of the SBV infection so it can be found at the earliest stage. Symptoms include milk drop, diarrhoea, fever and loss of appetite, and farmers must inform their private veterinary surgeon in such case. Defra have agreed to pay for tests when the above symptoms are found in cattle located outside the affected areas.
SBV causes deformities in newborn cattle, and the IDM team assess outbreaks throughout northern Europe. They suggest that the recent cold, wet climate has seen less midges taking off. However, the current milder conditions are set to change this. They also believe that the disease remained active over the winter, leading to further cause for concern.
'There may still be cases in newborn animals as we do not believe that transmission ceased entirely over the winter,' says a member of the IDM team. 'It is likely to still be circulating in Europe as well as the UK.'
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
