NFU calls for EU response to SBV
Vice President of the National Farmer's Union (NFU) Mr Gwyn Jones has met with officials of the European Commission and farming leaders from across Europe to discuss the spread and impact of the Schmallenberg Virus (SBV) at an EU Animal Health Advisory Committee.
Mr Jones, who serves as Vice-Chairman of the COPA Animal Health and Welfare Group, argued that a comprehensive and coordinated response would be vital in both tracking the spread of the virus and ultimately stamping it out.
“This deadly disease is spread by midges that have no respect for Member State boundaries, it is therefore important that we work together with our neighbours to share information and technology to stop its spread. The number of livestock infected with the virus continues to rise – there are now nearly 800 confirmed cases across five countries – but we still have no on-farm test and no vaccine to protect our animals.” said Mr Jones.
“In the short term we are encouraging farmers to continue to check their animals and report any suspicious symptoms to their vet, the more information available the quicker a solution can be found. But in the longer term the focus in the EU must be to work together to develop a field test to identify the virus rapidly and a vaccine for farmers to protect their livestock from future outbreaks.” he added.
Mr Jones also stressed that “The Commission must communicate to consumers both within the EU and outside that the Schmallenberg virus poses no risk to human health” after Russia and other countries outside the EU instituted a trade ban.
With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.
