First Cases of Blue Tongue Disease Detected in Switzerland: BTV-3 Variant Found in Jura and Solothurn

• The Federal Office for Veterinary Affairs reports three confirmed cases of Bluetongue disease in the cantons of Jura and Solothurn.
• The variant 3 (BTV-3) has been identified in the infected sheep. This is the first time this virus variant has appeared in Switzerland.
• The disease can lead to death in sheep. Bluetongue disease is not dangerous for humans.

Yesterday, the Federal Office for Veterinary Affairs already informed about a case of Bluetongue disease in the canton of Vaud. Today, there are three additional confirmed cases: Two sheep on a farm in the canton of Jura are infected as well as one sheep in the canton of Solothurn.

Bluetongue disease

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Caption:

The biting midges transmit Bluetongue disease.

IMAGO/blickwinkel

Bluetongue disease is a viral disease of ruminants and camelids. It occurs in animals such as sheep, cattle, llamas, and alpacas.

The virus owes its name to one of the symptoms: When the disease breaks out, the tongues of the animals can turn blue due to lack of oxygen.

Furthermore, the virus can cause fever, inflammation, and swelling. While the infection in cattle usually has a mild course, sheep can experience severe cases of the disease.

The virus is not contagious and is transmitted by biting insects. The disease is now present on all continents and is considered a notifiable animal disease.

Specifically, this time: The cases in the cantons of Jura and Solothurn involve an infection with subtype 3 (BTV-3) for the first time. This virus variant causes severe symptoms such as fever, inflammation, edema, and lameness.

“Especially for the sheep, the new variant is more dangerous,” explains Chantal Ritter, the cantonal veterinarian of Solothurn. “The disease courses are more severe, and the sheep can also die from it.” She is not surprised by the first cases of the new virus variant. “In Germany and France, the virus is spreading rapidly. That’s why we expected that the first cases would soon appear in Switzerland.”

No vaccination currently approved

The Federal Office for Veterinary Affairs (BLV) is now preparing the necessary measures together with the cantonal veterinarians. The most effective measure would be protection against mosquitoes. However, that is hardly possible, writes the BLV. And there are currently no vaccines available.

While there are currently three vaccines available against the BTV-3 variant, none of them is approved in Switzerland or the EU. To obtain approval, the vaccine manufacturers would have to apply for it. Swissmedic could then prioritize the request.

Caption:

Despite the lack of approval: In Germany, the first animals are already being vaccinated against Bluetongue disease. As seen here on a farm in Lower Saxony.

IMAGO/diebildwerft

In the EU, vaccination is already possible before official approval. Thus, animals in Germany and France are already partially vaccinated. Chantal Ritter would also welcome a quick approval in Switzerland: “Then we could vaccinate the animals preventively.”

Virus led to vaccination mandate in 2008

The last time Bluetongue disease was a topic in Switzerland was about 15 years ago. At that time, variant BTV-8 was circulating. Switzerland subsequently implemented a comprehensive vaccination program. In some cases, there was even a vaccination mandate for the animals.

Bluetongue disease in Switzerland

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Bluetongue disease was already circulating in Switzerland in 2007. The federal government responded with a vaccination campaign. Millions of cattle and sheep were vaccinated at that time.

Keystone/Salvatore Di Nolfi

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Additionally, the animals were bathed in an insecticide to prevent infection.

Keystone/Salvatore Di Nolfi

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There were protests against the temporarily imposed vaccination mandate. Opponents feared vaccination side effects. Some disputes were ultimately brought to court.

Keystone/Lukas Lehmann

Since vaccination is currently not possible, veterinarian Ritter recommends protecting the animals as much as possible from mosquitoes. For example, with insecticides. Furthermore, the animals should be kept in the barn in the evening and morning—when mosquitoes are particularly active.

Caption:

The biting midges—a type of mosquito—transmit the virus. They are especially active during dawn and dusk.

IMAGO/CHROMORANGE

“The animals should also not graze near streams, swamps, or puddles, as there tend to be especially many mosquitoes,” adds Ritter.

Hope for an early autumn and a cold winter

The infected sheep in the canton of Solothurn has meanwhile recovered. The affected farm must now isolate its sheep to minimize the risk of infection through mosquitoes. “Nonetheless, we will not be able to prevent further cases,” emphasizes Chantal Ritter.

A quick autumn and a cold winter would help, so that mosquitoes do not multiply too much next year.