Schmallenberg virus survives winter
The Schmallenberg virus (SBV) has survived the winter and is circulating again now, say the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) and Institute for Animal Health (IAH).
Scientists at RVC and IAH have discovered that the midge-borne virus has over-wintered, as animals at the RVC's farm have been found with the virus, despite the number of midges dropping dramatically during the colder period.
At present, it is though that the East and South are the only parts of England to have been affected, however RVC and IAH expect cases to spread further this year as milder weather means the number of midges will rise.
SBV causes stillbirths and deformities in newborn sheep and cattle when their mothers are infected, which is normally the first sign that SBV is present. The virus is thought to have first arrived in England last year when midges were blown from the continent.
'I would expect this year's outbreak to start really from now,' said Professor Peter Mertens, leader of the IAH vector-borne disease programme. 'The speed will depend on temperatures and winds, but I see no reason why it couldn't cover most of the country this year.'
A vaccine is hoped to be available in the next few months, according to Carl Padgett, president of the British Veterinary Association (BVA).
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
