Bluetongue in Northern Europe

Bluetongue (BTV) is an insect borne viral disease of ruminants, especially sheep. BTV is a notifiable disease because of the considerable economic losses it causes.

Recent BTV outbreaks in europe

The spread of BTV has extended northwards. Serotype BTV-8 has been diagnosed in many Northern European countries including the UK.

Recent outbreaks in Northern Europe have been attributed to climate change creating favourable conditions for the BTV virus vector, Culicoides midges. The range of the midges has extended northwards and environmental conditions allow for extended breeding seasons.

Combined control

Once BTV is established in a country, it can be difficult to control and may be impossible to eradicate. The wide host range and the possible existence of latently infected carrier animals make elimination of the source of infection difficult.

Vector control and vaccination is necessary for successful BTV control.

Bluetongue vaccine

An inactivated vaccine against BTV-8 infection, Bovilis^® BTV-8, has been developed for the control of the disease in sheep and cattle

Read more about Bovilis^® BTV-8 on the MSD Animal Health Bluetongue website.

Culicoides midges, the only identified vector of BTV.