Bluetongue virus found in six livestock farmers in Zeist

November 6, 2023 at 2:44 PM

Animals

ZEIST The number of livestock farms where the bluetongue virus has been diagnosed increased nationally by more than forty percent in one week. In the municipality of Zeist, the virus was found in 6 livestock farmers during the most recent measurement on October 30, according to figures from the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA). Last week it involved 4 livestock farmers; Although there is an increase, it is less significant than in the previous period.

During the measurement on October 12, it turned out that the bluetongue virus had been found in 4 livestock farmers. On October 23 there were also 4. On September 28, the bluetongue virus was reported to an animal keeper in the municipality of Zeist.

Nationally, this concerns 3,761 companies; last week there were 2666. The virus is spreading further and further through the country. In 223 of the 342 Dutch municipalities, bluetongue infection has now been detected at at least one livestock farm. The first infection was reported in Zeeland this week. Zeeland was the only province without infections last week.

(The text continues below the map.)

In this graph you will find the number of companies where at least one infection with the bluetongue virus has been detected by the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA). These records include both positive PCR test results and cases where clinical symptoms of the disease were observed. In order to monitor the outbreak of the virus, livestock farmers and veterinarians are required to report bluetongue. Click on the drop-down menu to select a measurement moment.

IN THE REST OF THE COUNTRY

This stands out in the regional figures: By far the most infections have been registered in the municipality of Súdwest-Fryslân. The NVWA detected the bluetongue virus at 148 companies in the Frisian municipality. On October 23, this was still 116. The Fryske Marren (123 infections), Alphen aan den Rijn (106) and Bodegraven-Reeuwijk (99) follow.

Most infected companies are located in the province of North Holland (711 infections), followed by the province of Friesland (633) and Gelderland (567). The number of infections increased in all provinces. The provinces of Drenthe and Overijssel are notable. In Drenthe, the number of infected livestock farms increased from 9 to 80 in one week. In Overijssel, the number of infected farms was three times higher this week than last week (from 61 to 190).

WHAT IS BLUETONONG?

Bluetongue is spread by small gadflies. They transmit the disease to sheep, goats and cows. Sick animals develop infections in the mouth, among other things. In animals that are very sick, the tongue turns blue. They also have a high fever, drool, walk lame and have a rounded back. The disease is not transmissible to humans. Unlike bird flu, animals that become ill do not need to be culled.