Germany: Three vaccines against bluetongue disease still permitted
By emergency decree, the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) has permitted the continued use of three vaccines against infections with the bluetongue virus serotype 3 (Bluetongue virus, BTV-3). The BMEL is thus reacting to the expected seasonal resurgence of BTV-3 infections, which is associated with rising temperatures in spring and the associated increase in activity of midges, a type of mosquito that transmits BTV-3. The application is initially limited to six months. The amendment to the BTV-3 vaccination authorization regulation was urgently required because, although two BTV-3 vaccines have been approved by the EU Commission, they may not be available on the market in time.
In addition, Dr.Ophelia Nick, Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture: "Infection with bluetongue disease causes great suffering for the animals and their owners; in the worst case, infected cattle, sheep or goats can die. Thanks to our extension of the exemption for three tailor-made vaccines, there is now the possibility of protecting animals from this disease. However, time is of the essence: now is the right time to have cattle, sheep or goats vaccinated - the midge season has not yet begun".
All cattle, sheep and goat farmers are called upon to vaccinate their animals against the bluetongue virus (BTV-3). Vaccination is the best way to protect animals against disease and thus also helps to effectively reduce the economic consequences for the farms. However, vaccination rates for susceptible animals in Germany are still very low in some cases.
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