If the virus started in September last year before it has appeared in the Netherlands since 2009, there doesn’t seem to be much going on yet. The government acknowledges that sheep can die from complications that match the disease, but reports that the virus is usually not fatal.
That is a misconception, as becomes apparent when NH visits Wilko and Hermien’s farm in Kortenhoef a few weeks later. In just a few weeks we have one of these twenty of their sheep died. Moreover, in addition to sheep, cows also appear to be susceptible to the virus.
Warm autumn
Because it is in October and November also remains relatively warm, things happen quickly in those months: tens of thousands of sheep die in total, and many more become infected. Livestock farmers are powerless because there is no medicine or vaccine yet.
That is now the case. After Agriculture Minister Adema made an announcement in February South African vaccine rejectedthe light went off at the end of April green for a Spanish vaccine. The LTO and livestock farmers responded with relief to that news, because it can prevent a new wave.
However, haste is required, the Netherlands has approximately one million sheep and they cannot all receive the vaccine at the same time. And if the temperature no longer drops below ten degrees at night, the midges will become active again. In addition, cows also need to be vaccinated, and unlike sheep, twice.
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