Looking Out For Bluetongue

Bluetongue is a notifiable disease currently affecting animals in the UK. Although it affects animals, not humans, and does not pose a public health risk, it is of grave concern to farmers and smallholders with livestock.

Bluetongue is an insect-borne viral disease spread by biting midges. The disease causes fever and swelling in animals and, in the most severe cases, death.

The virus affects sheep, cattle, deer, goats and camelids – such as alpacas and llamas. There is currently no cure for Bluetongue, and infected animals should receive supportive care.

It is important that anyone who keeps livestock remains vigilant. At the time of writing, areas in the U.K. currently affected by the virus include Kent, Suffolk, Norfolk, East Riding of Yorkshire, and Lincolnshire; however, regular updates can be found on the Government website, and it is advisable to check these often in order to keep abreast of movement restrictions.

Sheep are often the most severely affected animals. However, the severity of the infection very much depends on the type of the virus and the strain. Sheep show the most obvious signs of infection, and these include:

Ulcers/sores in the mouth and nose
Swollen lips, tongue, head and neck
Discharge from the eyes and nose
Drooling from the mouth
Fever
Breathing difficulties
Aborted lambs/stillbirths
Lameness
Death

Unfortunately, if the ewe is already infected, lambs can become infected with the virus before their birth. Signs of infection in lambs might be stillbirth, weakness, deformity, blindness, very small lambs, or death within a short time of birth.

The same can be said of calves. However, sheep appear to show more obvious clinical signs of the virus. Cows may show signs such as lethargy, redness around the mouth, eyes, and nose, lack of appetite, reduction in milk production, and nasal discharge.

Bluetongue causes stress and anxiety to farmers and smallholders, and the Government has given emergency approval for vaccines to help fight the virus. However, at present, the vaccines only tackle the symptoms of the virus rather than prevent infection.

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