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Number Of Animals Dead From Bluetongue In North Rises To 193

The number of animals which have died in an outbreak of bluetongue disease in the north has risen to 193, with the disease now having been detected across 133 farms, the north's 'agriculture ministry' said on Thursday.

The 'ministry' added that the disease has now been detected near the villages of Trikomo and Vatili, and that now, "necessary measures have been taken in businesses and regions where the disease has been detected to prevent its spread".

It said the disease is "difficult to control due to the large number of potential hosts", and that "restricting the movement of affected animals can reduce the spread of the disease, but it is not completely effective."

"There is a vaccine against some forms of the virus, but there is no cross-protection between different forms. Controlling flies is critical to controlling the disease. Producers can take precautions by spraying flies, especially in manure areas and around their farms," it added.

It said the disease had first been detected in cattle farms near Famagusta, Lefkoniko, and Rizokarpaso, and that laboratory samples of the affected animals were taken there and then.

To this end, it said "the relevant European Union reference laboratory was contacted to determine the form of bluetongue" which had "caused the epidemic", and that the process of sending samples to the EU's laboratories is now underway.

On the ground, it said it is now working together with municipalities in the north to reduce the number of flies present and added that "all municipalities have been informed about the disease and about the methods to control it".

Additionally, it said, insecticides have been distributed to the affected farms.

"Bluetongue disease causes an epidemic in [the north] every three or four years, typically though flies carried by winds from Africa and the Middle East. The disease, which is not normally seen in the northern hemisphere, has started to be seen in European countries as flies migrate north due to global warming," it said.

With this in mind, it added that outbreaks have been reported in "many European countries", including the United Kingdom, Denmark, Greece, and Turkey.

The alarm over the disease was initially raised on Wednesday by the north's animal producers' and breeders' union chairman Mustafa Naimogullari.

He said the disease "is bringing sheep and goat farmers to their knees" and has now spread to farms from Rizokarpaso all the way to Nicosia.

"The flies which landed on the dead animals then transmitted the disease to other animals. This is very serious negligence, frivolity! You cannot do these things," he said.

Naimogullari's comments were met with fury by the north's dairy product manufacturers' association (Suib) chairman Mahmut Erden on Wednesday night.

"A disease like bluetongue, which does not pass to humans and does not harm human health in any way but only causes economic losses through the death of animals, was advertised on television screens as if to rub it in the faces of the Greek Cypriots," he said.

He added, "we will pay the price for the unfortunate situation [Naimogullari] has created when they stop us sending halloumi to the south. We condemn this irresponsible behaviour."

Bluetongue disease is transmitted by insects and primarily affects sheep and, less commonly, cattle. Characteristic symptoms include fever, swelling around the face and lips, and in severe cases, blue discolouration of the tongue due to a lack of oxygen.

The disease is not directly a threat to human health, though the increased animal mortality rate it brings about tends to lead to substantial economic losses for farmers.

Warning Of 'massive Impact' Of Farm Virus In Wales

Image caption,

Farmers are being urged to be on their guard for signs of bluetongue infection in their animals, which can include lesions around the mouth, lameness and fever

Steffan Messenger

BBC Wales environment correspondent

Senior vets have warned an outbreak of a potentially deadly livestock disease is likely to recur next year.

A new strain of the bluetongue virus, which is spread by midges, has affected large parts of the east of England in recent months.

There have also been two isolated cases in north Wales, caused by the movement of animals before restrictions came into force.

Dr Sioned Timothy, who heads pharmaceutical giant Boehringer Ingelheim's livestock vet team in the UK, said the potential impact was massive in Wales if it took hold.

First cases of bluetongue found in sheep in Wales

Bluetongue virus warning as midges blown into UK

Bluetongue restriction zone extended across county

While midge activity is set to reduce over the winter months, farmers are being urged to remain vigilant for signs of the infection, which does not affect people or food safety.

"We may be fortunate that the weather goes in our favour and for this season the further spread of the virus is curtailed," explained Dr Timothy.

Her company is behind one of three newly-developed vaccines which have not yet gone through the full authorisation process but have been granted emergency approval for use in England.

Image source, The Pirbright Institute Image caption,

Infected culicoides midges blown over from northern Europe can infect livestock with one bite

"We know from the experience in the Netherlands, where the outbreak has been more extensive and the clinical signs have been worse this year than in previous years that it is likely to recur," she said.

"We do need to look forward and have a plan in place for what to do should the risk persist," she added. "The key thing is for farmers to be vigilant".

The latest outbreak began in the Netherlands in 2023 and has spread widely across Europe this year, with midges blown over from the continent infecting sheep and cattle in the UK.

Image caption,

The impact the disease is having on livestock seems to be "much worse in the Netherlands this year than it was in 2023," says Dr Sioned Timothy

A restriction zone, external, limiting the movement of animals, is now in place across 20 counties in England - ranging from the south coast to parts of North Yorkshire.

Last week it was announced that the English Winter Fair - a major agricultural show - due to be held in Staffordshire in mid-November had been cancelled.

Dr Timothy, who lives in Newcastle Emlyn, Carmarthenshire, said the "relatively low livestock population" in the east of England "will have limited the spread in some ways".

Should the disease spread in Wales - where sheep and cattle farms dominate the agricultural landscape - "the potential impact is massive", she said.

What is bluetongue virus?

Bluetongue virus affects wild and domestic animals, such as sheep, goats, cattle and deer.

It can cause ulcers or sores around the mouth and face, difficulties swallowing and breathing, fever and lameness.

It does not affect humans and the Welsh government has said there is no risk to public health or food safety.

Sheep are more affected by the latest strain - known as BTV-3 - though the disease's impact seems to vary considerably across different regions, with some animals showing little sign of infection.

In the Netherlands, tens of thousands of sheep have died.

"We're still dealing with an unknown potentially," Dr Timothy warned.

Image caption,

Surveillance of midges around a farm in Gwynedd where there was a case of bluetongue showed the virus has not been passed on, says the FUW's Gwynedd Watkin

A total of 12 cases of BTV-3 have been detected so far outside the current restricted zones - all of which were animals moved from areas where the disease is now known to be circulating before restrictions were in place.

They include two cases in north Wales in recent weeks - involving three sheep on a farm in Gwynedd and an unidentified animal on Anglesey - all of which were culled.

Gwynedd Watkin, of the Farmers' Union of Wales in Gwynedd, said the local community had been very concerned by the news.

"What gave us peace of mind was that the sheep suffering from bluetongue had recovered from it, and also that the system of licensing the movements of animals (had meant) they were able to trace where the disease had come from."

"We encourage our members to be vigilant and to be especially careful from where they purchase their livestock," he added.

Image source, Welsh government Image caption,

Wales' chief vet Dr Richard Irvine called on farmers to "think really carefully about the movement of stock" from areas bordering the restriction zones in England

Wales' chief veterinary officer Dr Richard Irvine said investigations had been carried out at both locations to ascertain whether the virus had entered the midge population.

This work had concluded for the first farm in Gwynedd with no evidence of local bluetongue infection.

"We're working through surveillance for the second farm and we hope that will yield a similar outcome," he said.

The disease was "very much" on the Welsh government's radar, he added, with officials "thinking very carefully about the next few weeks, months and into the spring".

"Hopefully we will not see that increased severity of cases that were reported in northern Europe," he said.

"But certainly we need to be prepared - as well as taking those immediate actions here in Wales to be vigilant, report cases, source stock responsibly and protect the national herd and flock from bluetongue".

A stakeholder group involving farming and veterinary organisations had been meeting for a number of months to assess the situation, he said.

The potential role of new vaccines was part of this discussion, but currently they were "new to market products" that are "not fully protective," he added.

Image caption,

Bluetongue affects sheep, cattle, deer and goats as well as camelids such as llamas and alpacas.

Both Dr Irvine and Dr Timothy warned that climate change may mean the disease becomes more of a familiar problem in the UK.

"Historically the textbooks would tell us that bluetongue going back several decades was a disease predominately seen around the Mediterranean basin," Dr Irvine said.

"We're certainly seeing a shift in the pattern of a lot of diseases as temperatures warm up and seasons become less defined," Dr Timothy added.

"It's likely that the type of midges - for instance - that are required for transmission of some of these vector-borne diseases will become more prevalent."

Bluetongue is a notifiable disease so anyone suspecting the disease must report it to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), external.

Bluetongue Disease Outbreak Hits Thousands Of Sheep In Green Mountain

An outbreak of bluetongue disease has affected around 4,000 sheep in the Green Mountain region, with approximately 150 reported dead since the initial cases emerged in late September. 

Salih Boumbarka, head of the region's Livestock Department, confirmed the outbreak, describing it as a serious threat to local livestock.

Boumbarka also reported that a vaccination campaign against lumpy skin disease in cattle began two weeks ago, aiming to curb disease spread and safeguard animal health. However, he highlighted ongoing shortages in essential supplies, including insecticides, medications, and disinfectants to treat affected areas.

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