What You Should Know about Bluetongue

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Bluetongue is a viral disease that occurs worldwide in ruminants. Until recently, bluetongue only in warmer climates. Only in 2006, Bluetongue was first established in northern Europe. Bluetongue is transmitted by biting “sand flies” or “midges” (Culicoides spp.). One symptom is a blue tongue. Bluetongue occurs most frequently in cattle and sheep. Bluetongue is not contagious to humans. Not through the meat. In 2007 showed that the damage was greater bluetongue. The Netherlands therefore a vaccination program to control the disease.

What is bluetongue?

Bluetongue is a viral disease worldwide in ruminants such as cattle and sheep avoid. The disease is transmitted by small gnats, called midges. It is almost impossible that animals can infect each other. There is always a stabbing infected midge is needed. Bluetongue is not contagious for humans, not through the meat.

Bluetongue is most common in warmer climates. The disease phone number data early 20th century, first discovered in South Africa. Midges are less active when it is colder. Also, the virus can develop in less than Knut.

Especially sheep are susceptible to bluetongue. The signs in sheep include difficulty breathing, fever, bluish discoloration of tongue and sores on the mucous membranes. In sheep about one third of the animals die. The symptoms in cattle are not always. Often the animals have sores in the mouth. Sheep and cattle are pregnant and infected with the bluetongue virus may have offspring with abnormalities.

Bluetongue was first in August 2006 in Northern Europe determined. It was supposedly one of bluetongue virus type 8. There are about 25 different types of this virus. In 2006 the Dutch Central Veterinary Institute of the virus detected. They were in midges belonging to the Culicoides obsoletus and Culicoides dewulfi. In southern Europe is a different midge, Culicoides imicola the midge. European countries currently have little knowledge about the crafts. However, it is assumed that these small insects are responsible for the spread of bluetongue.