Bluetongue virus devastates Dutch farms, resurgence hits hard

One sheep drools, another limps, and a third can barely stand. The bluetongue virus wreaks havoc for Dutch farmer Erik van Norel, who believed the worst was over. Still reeling from last year’s outbreak, the 41-year-old now faces a resurgence on his farm. Bluetongue, a non-contagious viral disease spread by insects, affects sheep and cows but spares pigs and horses. Controlling it is difficult once it takes root.

In September 2023, the BTV-3 strain emerged in the Netherlands. Van Norel gathered his sick animals and transported them to the stable on his quad bike. Some died within 12 hours. He lost 80 animals, approximately three-quarters of those infected. “The situation was desperate. There was nothing I could do,” he commented, surrounded by his flock in Oosterwolde, northern Netherlands. Symptoms include excessive salivation, swelling of lips, tongue, and jaw, and, for pregnant animals, loss of offspring, varying from farm to farm. Unlike bird flu, infected animals are not automatically culled. Bluetongue is rarely fatal for cows but significantly reduces milk production and poses no threat to human health.

Dutch authorities have recorded outbreaks in 6,384 locations, with numbers rising steadily. However, farming union LTO argues this is an underestimate, as farmers no longer take blood samples from every infected animal. The virus has also been detected in France, Belgium, and Germany. Nearly 1,200 Belgian farms are affected, tripling in three weeks. France faces an “explosion” of cases, quadrupling in eight days, according to the agriculture ministry. In Germany, officials noted 3,212 cases by August 22, a worrying increase.

Bluetongue virus discovered in UK

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Van Norel contends with “season two” of the bluetongue crisis. Vaccination has made his animals less sick than last year, but the impact on his farm remains evident. He points to one sheep isolating from the flock. “Her mouth is very sensitive; she’s hardly eating and getting very thin,” he observed. “She’s drooling heavily and has had diarrhoea. All signs indicate she’s sick,” Van Norel concluded. He believes this sheep will survive but is uncertain about six others in a meadow behind the stable. Though recovered, they now suffer from complications. Swollen legs prevent them from walking or standing upright. Those who don’t recover are humanely put down, according to Van Norel.

Vaccination doesn’t prevent the disease but reduces symptoms. About 10 percent of his sheep succumb to bluetongue now, compared to 75 percent last year. Dutch farmers have access to three vaccines, with the government expediting approvals before the disease-carrying insects became more active in the summer. However, LTO points out that farmers bear all costs, from purchasing the vaccine to vet fees. “The government has done its part with the vaccines, but given the current impact on sheep farmers and milk producers, we want the ministry to do more,” stated Heleen Prinsen, an animal welfare official at LTO. “In Germany, France, and Denmark, farmers receive payments for the vaccines,” Prinsen informed, urging the European Union to devise a joint response to the virus. She noted it’s too early to assess the total damage to the industry, but it’s undoubtedly another “tough financial hit” for farmers.

Following the confirmation of Bluetongue virus in a ram in Norfolk, be vigilant for the disease. Talk to your vet if you are considering moving susceptible animals from the east/southeast of England to Wales. For more information: https://t.co/4a72HdwKrS pic.twitter.com/6NAwCj4Nj6

— Welsh Government Rural Affairs (@WGRural) August 27, 2024

Van Norel, who inherited the farm from his uncle and holds his job dear, stated that bluetongue cost him “tens of thousands of euros” last year, heavily impacting his business. He managed to absorb the cost but fears further outbreaks could lead to bankruptcy.