2 September 2008

2 minute read

Europe

Measures have been taken starting August 20, 2008 to limit the spread of the disease and all cattle, sheep and goats older than three months must be vaccinated against the virus, serotype 8.

The Czech Republic’s State Veterinary Administration (SVA) has announced a third case of bluetongue in the region of Karlovy Vary, District of Cheb. Virology tests confirmed only one young bull was infected. As a result, measures have been taken to isolate the region and starting August 20, 2008, all cattle, sheep and goats older than three months must be vaccinated against the virus, serotype 8.

For vaccination producers must only use inactivated vaccines ZULVAC® 8 Bovis for cattle and ZULVAC® 8 Ovis for sheep and goats. Vaccines were procured by the Ministry of Agriculture and distributed by the State Veterinary Administration. The vaccination is funded by the EU and must be carried out until September 14, 2008, at the latest.

This is the third case of bluetongue in the Czech Republic. The first occurred in 2007 in Skalna in the same region and district. The second case, in early 2008, and the current, third case both happened in the region of Karlovy Vary, District Cheb.

The SVA regularly carries out bluetongue monitoring programs in the restricted zones and surveillance programs outside the restricted zones. These programs include clinical, serological and entomological components. The latest findings do confirm there is bluetongue virus circulating in the country. It had probably entered the country through midges from western Europe.

TheCattleSite News Desk