Three months after the start of the outbreak, bluetongue has largely disappeared due to the cold. The midge that transmits the bluetongue virus becomes less active when temperatures drop, which is why there have been fewer infections recently. This is reflected in the number of positive tests in the laboratory, although it cannot be ruled out that testing is less consistent than at the beginning of the outbreak.
“When it is around eight degrees, it becomes too cold for the midge and the virus is spread less,” says Melle Holwerda, researcher at Wageningen Bioveterinary Research. That does not mean the outbreak has been conquered. The midges can survive the winter in stables. This way the virus can also get through the winter and return in the spring.”
The Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality is in discussions with seven pharmaceutical companies about developing a new vaccine. At the request of the ministry, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research is setting up a place where possible vaccines can be tested in the laboratory on sheep. If all goes well, a well-functioning vaccine could be available for livestock farms by the middle of next year.
To get a grip on bluetongue, we are not only working on developing a vaccine. The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority is also investigating which specific midge species carry the virus and whether they can overwinter in stables. Research is also underway into the mortality rates and recovery of ruminants after infection.
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2023-12-05 11:28:49
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