Farmers urged to submit livestock for post-mortem due to growing Schmallenberg virus threat

Farmers are being told to stay vigilant for any outbreaks of disease
Farmers are being told to stay vigilant for any outbreaks of disease

Cases of livestock disease Schmallenberg virus (SBV) has grown, causing the meat sector to urge English livestock producers to submit lambs with the suspected virus for post-mortem examination.

The disease was recently detected in lambs on four holdings in the North East of England, including Northumberland.

Schmallenberg virus was previously detected in the South West of England last month and subsequently in North Yorkshire.

The virus is capable of infecting pregnant sheep and cattle and causing severe malformations of foetuses in the womb.

It emerged across Western Europe in November 2011 and, by July 2013, calves, lambs and kids with severe skeletal deformities had been reported in at least 24 European countries.

Importantly, the virus does not spread from animal to animal but, like Bluetongue virus, is transmitted by midges, which infect the animals when they bite.

No, or very few, cases of Schmallenberg virus causing deformed calves or lambs were confirmed in 2014 or 2015, possibly as a result of immunity built up by animals following the 2011/12 epidemic.

'Levels of immunity have dropped'

Ben Strugnell, of Farm Post Mortem Ltd said: “The possible re-emergence of Schmallenberg was predicted following a study in autumn 2015 which tested young flock replacement sheep in the south of England, the results of which suggested that levels of immunity may have dropped.

“It is very important that, if producers encounter lambs with skeletal deformities, these are submitted for post-mortem examination so that appropriate samples can be taken to establish whether Schmallenberg is the cause.

“At present there are no vaccines available for Schmallenberg and it is already too late to vaccinate sheep which are due to lamb in spring. However, it is important that we ascertain the true levels of the virus, because this will help determine whether there is a need to vaccinate later in the year.”

Information on the current disease situation will be reflected in the Animal and Plant Healthy Agency (APHA) quarterly disease surveillance reports.