Schmallenberg virus (SBV) has now been identified in samples submitted from 29 farms across the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex and Hertfordshire. Previously all the farms with the virus present were sheep units.

All of the counties where SBV infection has been identified are in the zones recognised as potentially at risk from infected midges being blown across last summer from affected areas in northern mainland Europe. Enhanced surveillance for SBV infection has been implemented across GB and the number of samples submitted to AHVLA for SBV testing continues to increase.

Other affected countries have also detected the virus in cattle.

There are now confirmed Schmallenberg cases in five EU member states, with Germany worst affected, where 150 sheep farms have produced positive tests.

The Netherlands has identified SBV on three cattle farms, 84 sheep farms and 4 goat farms.

Belgium has reported finding virus-positive lambs with congenital deformities on 61 premises in several regions, and also a six-month calf foetus where the herd had reported milk drop during the summer and three cattle subsequently tested positive for the virus.

In France, ‘high risk zones’ remain in place (Alsace, Lorraine, Nor Pas de Calais, Picardie, Champagne Ardennes) and there have been 13 reports of the virus identified.

Further Reading