Blue disease in Saxony-Anhalt: vaccination urgently recommended!

Blue disease in Saxony-Anhalt: vaccination urgently recommended!

In Saxony-Anhalt there are worrying news for the animal owners: the blue tongue virus has spread quickly in the past few weeks and is considered a serious threat, especially for cattle and sheep. On a query from the Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI) it was announced that 33 animal husbandry is now affected by outbreaks, with the first cases being determined in early August, among other things when keeping beef in Wernigerode.

The virus caused by the blue-tongue disease is transferred by blood-sucking mosquitoes and does not represent a danger to people. Although the disease in Germany has been known since October 2023, the last profiles of the experts indicate a steep increase in infections-especially since July 2024. Considering worrying growth.

vaccination recommendations for farmers

To protect the animals, veterinarians ask farmers to take preventive measures. This includes not only the use of insect offices, but also the targeted vaccination of animals against the blue -tongue virus. In Saxony-Anhalt, the disease has been actively vaccinated since mid-June. The pet owners receive support from the state and the animal disease fund, which will reimburse the costs for the vaccinations - albeit with upper limits of max. 4.00 euros per cattle and 8.35 euros per sheep and year.

According to the state administrative office, vaccinations for cattle are necessary as effective protection: two doses every three weeks should be administered, while sheep should make do with a vaccination. Experts emphasize that effective vaccination protection can be achieved three weeks after the last vaccination dose. Saxony-Anhalt is estimated to hold around 275,000 cattle and 89,000 sheep, which underlines the urgency of the situation.

Review of previous outbreaks

Blozungen disease has caused significant problems in agriculture in the past. The first known outbreak in Germany occurred in 2006. Thanks to massive vaccination campaigns, the spread and effects could be successfully contained at the time. However, the current serotype 3 differs from the earlier variants, which makes the challenge more potentially complicated.

The symptoms of blue -tung disease can vary from animal to animal, with sheep in particular being badly affected. This pathogens can cause lameness, fever and general discomfort, which may be fatal. In cattle, the symptoms are usually less serious. For example, the Lower Saxony Land has already reported 1,423 animal husbandry, while adjacent federal states such as Thuringia, Saxony and Brandenburg are only affected in small numbers.

The intensive monitoring and the rapidly surrounding reaction of the authorities as well as the farmers are essential for the containment of the disease. The race against time has started to protect the sheep and cattle in particular from spreading the virus.

In the current situation, it is essential that animal owners remain vigilant and follow the recommendations of the authorities. The rapid spread of the blue-tongue virus could have far-reaching consequences for cattle breeding in Saxony-Anhalt and beyond. A comprehensive vaccination protection and protection against mosquito bites are the first steps to prevent further damage.

The blue-tongue disease is a viral animal disease caused by the Blazungung virus (BTV). The virus belongs to the Roviridae family and is mainly transmitted by Gnitzen (Culicoides). The first proven cases occurred in South Africa in the 1950s and later spread over various continents. In Europe, the disease made headlines in the early 2000s when it appeared in the Netherlands and in the UK. This earlier epidemic led to extensive measures to monitor and control.

In Germany, the Blozungs disease occurred for the first time in 2006, whereupon a massive vaccination program was launched in order to curb the spread of the disease. Due to the quick reaction of the authorities and cooperation with farmers, the cases were successfully reduced. As a result, Germany was declared free of the disease until the latest outbreak with the serotype BTV-3. Against this background, the current situation in Saxony-Anhalt is a serious challenge that could have both economic and health consequences for animal husbandry and agriculture.

Current epidemiological data

According to the Friedrich Loeffler Institute, the current outbursts of the blue-decay disease are worrying, especially in view of the rapid spread in different federal states. In 2024, over 4,800 animal husbandry was affected nationwide, which represents a significant increase compared to previous years. This increase also correlates with the climatic conditions that favor the activity of the carrier insects.

A survey among livestock holders shows that the willingness to vaccination is relatively high at the moment, but there are concerns about the costs and logistical challenges that a nationwide vaccination can bring. Figures from the State Administration Office indicate that despite the state support, many holders hesitate, for fear of possible side effects or inefficient intelligence results.