A total of 2,348 BTV-8 cases were detected in the country since the first outbreak in September 2015 to the end of April this year. Nearly all areas are under biosecurity surveillance.

Most cases have occurred in the Massif Central mountains. Vaccination is voluntary and, in an effort to preserve France’s international markets, the focus is on animals most likely to be exported.

French Minister for Agriculture Stéphane Le Foll has said he is “conducting negotiations with a number of importing countries inside and outside Europe”.

Spread

The UK Department of Agriculture, DEFRA, has been monitoring the situation. There is a risk that the disease could either be imported or, more likely, carried across the channel by midges. Monitoring includes not only the outbreaks in France but also climate and temperature changes. Usually the winter is a vector-free period as the colder temperatures make midges less active. However, the unusually warm winter meant that midges were still active and France has not had a vector-free period.

The latest situation assessment determined the risk to be ‘low’. But as we move further into the summer, there will be more frequent updates on the risk status. The Irish Farmers Journal understands that a full risk assessment will be published in the coming weeks.

The National Farmers Union in the UK is advising farmers to consult their own vets on whether or not to vaccinate against the virus. Surveillance of BTV-8 is being carried out in the UK both in midges and bulk milk testing.

Irish livestock importers have been warned about the risk of importing animals from France.

Read more

Warning against importing cattle from Bluetongue areas