The FASFC food agency, based on data from the Sciensano Health Institute, confirmed that the number of bluetongue outbreaks in Belgium has increased to 56. Considering that on Monday there were only 29 such outbreaks in herds, the epidemic is making rapid progress – reports the La France portal Agricole.
Most infections were detected in sheep herds, but some of them concern dairy farms, the Belgian services reported. Most outbreaks have been detected on farms in the region near the border with the Netherlands, but the number of infected herds southeast of Brussels and in the Ardennes is also growing. FASFC unfortunately predicts that the bluetongue epidemic will continue to progress.
Bluetongue mainly affects sheep and cattle. The virus often takes a deadly toll. They are spread by mosquitoes and other insects that bite animals and feed on their blood. The increase in infections is associated with, among others, with the weather this summer. Hot weather interspersed with periods of heavy rainfall favor the proliferation of insects.
read more
Vaccination did not protect cattle against bluetongue in the Netherlands 
read more
Germany: A case of bluetongue in cattle in Hesse 
