Detection of serotype 14 of bluetongue virus in Baltic states and Poland

Almudena Sánchez Matamoros  & José Manuel Sánchez-Vizcaíno
  November 27th, 2012. SUAT-UCM

In November 2012, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland have informed at the European Commission of the detection of animals positive for bluetongue virus. In addition, Poland has made the virus sequencing obtaining results highly compatible with the serotype 14 of bluetongue virus. Thus, every country has implemented the immobilization of positive farms and epidemiological study (MAGRAMA, 2012).

Furthermore, Russian government reported the detection bluetongue serotype 14 in Belarus and Russia to animals imported from Europe (PROMED, 2012). Note that the last outbreak of bluetongue serotype 14 in Russia was reported in March 2012.

The trade of the Spanish livestock sector influenced by this disease is characterized by historically imported large numbers of live bovine animals, sheep and goats from Poland and Lithuania (Agencia tributaria, DATACOMEX, 2012). Hence, an increase of the control measure at border crossings is essential to prevent the entry of a new serotype of the bluetongue in Spain.

In response, the Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente (MAGRAMA) reported to the Veterinary Services of the Autonomous Communities that increase the surveillance in animals susceptible to bluetongue from the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) and Poland.

 

Links:
RASVE-MAPAMA
ProMed-mail