Evolution of Bluetongue in Spain 2011-2012

Almudena Sánchez Matamoros  & José Manuel Sánchez-Vizcaíno
October 30th, 2012. SUAT-UCM

Evolution of Bluetongue in Spain in the period of vector activity of 2011-2012.

In the period of vector activity of 2011 - 2012 (October to March) have been reported twelve outbreaks of bluetongue (BTV) in Spain. The serotypes responsible of the outbreak have been the serotype 1 and 4, not finding any outbreak of serotype 8 in this period (the last outbreak in 2010) (Figure 7). Nine outbreaks of serotype 1 have been declared between October and January. These outbreaks have been detected in sentinel farms in the province of Caceres and on the border in the province of Salamanca, where outbreaks have been detected in the recent years. From this date has not shown the presence of further outbreaks of the disease. In addition, the serotype 4 was detected in March 2012 within the restriction zone for serotypes 1, 4 and 8 in the provinces of Huelva and Seville, highlighting its detection in wildlife.

  

Fig. 7:  Bluetongue outbreaks in Spain in the period of vector activity of 2011-2012. 
Source: Based on information from Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment MAGRAMA

In addition, this period was marked by the modification of the Order ARM/3373/2010 by the Order ARM/1614/2011. This Order established a model voluntary vaccination since July 31, 2011. Therefore, the important awareness of veterinarians and farmers of the benefits of vaccination as a control measure for the disease and their appropriate application has allowed to continue a favorable epidemiological evolution, decreasing the number of outbreaks in this period (table 2).