NSA call for Schmallenberg vaccine
Following the recent discovery of the Schmallenberg virus (SBV) in Wales, the National Sheep Association (NSA) are calling for development of a vaccination.
NSA Senior Communications Officer, Joanne Pugh, said: "NSA continues to push for a vaccine to be developed and licensed for UK use as quickly as possible, as we just do not know what is around the corner with this disease."
The Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AVHLA) and Welsh Government are expected to carry out investigations at the farm in Ceredigion, West Wales, where three cows and a calf have been infected with SBV - the first in the country.
Officials have urged the area's farmers to be vigilant for signs of SBV in their cattle and sheep, which includes abortions and severe abnormalities in young. The midge-born disease came to the UK for the first time last year, with only England being affected until now.
Pugh said research needs to be quick and thorough as understanding of the virus is still limited: "This new case proves that point and shows how important it is for DEFRA and others to continue to look at vaccination options."
She added: “Our thoughts are with the family involved, as it is very distressing to be hit by Schmallenberg through no fault of their own and with no real way of knowing where the virus came from or what long-term effects it might have.”
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.
