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Restriction zones
- Vaccination
- Transitional provisions
- Trans-placental transmission
- Bluetongue serotypes 6 and 11
- Description
- Questions & Answers
- Situation in the EU Member States
- Control measures
- Seasonally vector free period
- Notification and Health Situation
- Bluetongue monitoring and surveillance
- Community Reference Laboratory
 VIDEO BLUETONGUE EVOLUTION
Council Directive 2000/75/EC lays down control rules and
measures to combat bluetongue in the Community, including the establishment of
protection and surveillance zones and a ban on animals of the susceptible
species leaving those zones. Exemptions from that ban may de decided by the
Commission in accordance with the procedure provided for in that Directive. The
demarcation of protection and surveillance zones must take account of
geographical, administrative, ecological and epizootiological factors connected
with bluetongue and of the control arrangements. In order to take account of
those factors, it was deemed necessary to lay down rules as regards the minimum
harmonised requirements for monitoring and surveillance of bluetongue in the
Community.
To address this issues Commission Regulation (EC) No 1266/2007  of 26 October 2007 on implementing rules for Council
Directive 2000/75/EC as regards the control, monitoring, surveillance and
restrictions on movements of certain animals of susceptible species in relation
to bluetongue has been adopted. According to Article 6.4 of the above mentioned
Regulation, Member States shall draw up and keep updated a list of the
restricted zones in their territory and make it available to the other Member
States and to the public and article 6. 5 establishes that the Commission shall
publish, for information purposes only, on its website the updated list of
restricted zones.
The list of restriction zones per bluetongue serotype that have been
demarcated by the EU Member States can be found in the following
table:
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table [Updated 16-03-2012]
A map showing the
location of the restriction zones has been prepared:
This map and the table are updated on a regular basis.
Commission Decision 2008/655/EC of 24 July 2008 approves the vaccination plans against bluetongue of Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Luxemburg, the Netherlands and Portugal and establishes the maximum amount of the Community financial contribution for the year 2008.
This Decision has been amended by Commission Decision 2009/19/EC, approving the newly submitted vaccination plans of Austria and Sweden and the amended plans of Denmark, Spain, France, the Netherlands and Portugal, thus establishing new maximum amounts of the Community financial contribution for these Member States.
Information on the Conference organised in Brussels on 16 January 2008 in the Charlemagne building can be found here
In recent months, experience has shown that under certain conditions the effectiveness of the measures provided for in Regulation (EC) No 1266/2007 to ensure the protection of animals against attacks by vectors might be undermined by a combination of factors, including the new vector species, climate conditions and the type of husbandry of the susceptible ruminants.
In view of those circumstances and pending their further scientific assessment
Commission Regulation (EC) No 394/2008
lays down some transitional measures. Under the new rules that will apply for a transitional
period until 31 December 2009, as prolongued by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1304/2008 , Member
States may require, following Commission authorisation, that animals to be moved from restricted zones into bluetongue-free
areas are either vaccinated or shown to be naturally immunised. However, for calves under 90 days old that are too young to be vaccinated,
movements from restricted zones can take place without vaccination, on the condition that the animals are kept confined to be better protected from vectors.
By Commission Regulation (EC) No 1156/2009, these rules are prolonged until 31 December 2010.
The list of Member States making use of these transitional measures can be found in the following
table [Updated 01-04-2011]
In the light of new scientific information recently gathered on bluetongue virus pathogenesis related to the possible trans-placental transmission of bluetongue, some precautionary measures
were taken to prevent the possible spread of the disease by pregnant animals or certain newborn animals Regulation (EC) No 384/2008
A working group held on 30/4/08 reviewed the most recent information gathered by the Member States on this issue
The Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health made the following statement on 04.03.2009:
At the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health of 4 March 2009, the Netherlands
and Germany presented the results of their surveillance and other investigations into bluetongue virus type 6 (BTV6).
In October and November 2008, the Netherlands and Germany reported laboratory findings of BTV6 circulation in cattle located
in neighbouring parts of their territories with very little, if any clinical signs of bluetongue disease. The detection was a result
of routine bluetongue surveillance. There was an immediate investigation by the Community Emergency Veterinary Team and the affected Member
States have followed its recommendations. Movement restrictions similar to those applicable in a bluetongue outbreak have been applied as a precautionary
measure while the investigations were in progress.
Information on the genetic sequence available from the
virus isolates indicates a high similarity with the BTV6 South
African modified live vaccine. This virus may have circulated to a limited extent in the local midge
vector population. No bluetongue clinical disease has been observed in the field or under experimental conditions.
The results of these investigations suggest that no virulent BTV6 virus strain has circulated in the Netherlands or Germany, while the
positive findings are most likely to be ascribed to the use of a modified live vaccine.
On the basis of the assessment of these data the Netherlands
and Germany have therefore concluded that further continuation of precautionary
measures with regards to restrictions on trade are not justified and they will be lifted as of
5 March 2009. However, strengthened surveillance will continue and control measures may be applied if there
is evidence of further virus circulation in the 2009 vector season or if a virulent strain is detected.
Belgium reported a similar situation with respect to circulation
of bluetongue virus type 11 (BTV11). Information on the genetic sequence
available indicates a high similarity with the reference strain that was used
to produce the South African modified live vaccine for BTV-11. The epidemiological
situation has been assessed. No virus has been isolated and no clinical signs of bluetongue disease
have been observed. In view of this, the precautionary measures in the temporary control zones currently in force will
be lifted as of 5 March. Similarly to the Netherlands and Germany, strengthened surveillance will continue and control
measures may be applied if there is evidence of further virus circulation in the 2009 vector season or if a virulent strain is detected.
Presentations:
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Overwintering of BTV-8 in the UK & Northern Europe
Karin Darpel, Chris Oura and Philip Mellor Arbovirology Department, IAH Pirbright
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Transplacental bluetongue infection in Belgium
De Clercq K, Vandenbussche F, Vandemeulebroucke E, Vanbinst T, De Leeuw I, Verheyden B, Goris N, Mintiens K, Méroc E, Herr C, Hooybergs J, Houdart P, Sustronck B, De Deken R, Maquet G, Bughin J, Saulmont M, Lebrun M, Bertels G, Steurbaut N, Miry C
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Trans-placental Transmission Field Trial Of Btv-1 in Spain
Luis José Romero, Epidemiology Unit, Subdirectorate General for Animal Health
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Vertical transmission of Bluetongue virus serotype 8
CVI of Wageningen UR Lelystad, the Netherlands - Department of Virology - Exotic Viral Diseases - Piet van Rijn
Bluetongue is a non-contagious, insect-transmitted,
viral disease of domestic and wild ruminants. It is not known to affect
humans.
Disease characteristics
The disease is characterised by inflammation of the mucous membranes,
congestion, swelling and haemorrhages. Sheep are generally the worst affected,
while cattle and goats do not usually show any clinical signs of disease and
can carry the virus for a certain period of time and transmit it to other
ruminants.
Transmission
Transmission takes place via bite of certain species of Culicoides midges,
which are biological vectors. It is not transmitted by direct or indirect
contact between animals in the absence of the insects.
Sources of virus
Infected Culicoides.
Occurrence
The virus is present in a broad band of countries extending approximately
between 40°N and 35°S. The bluetongue virus has been shown by serology to be
present in regions where the Culicoides is present (e.g. Africa, the Americas,
Australia, the Middle East and some countries of southern Asia and
Oceania).
Bluetongue situation in the EU has considerably changed in recent times with
incursions of new serotypes, namely of serotype 8 (in an area of the Community
where outbreaks have never been reported before and which was not considered at
risk of bluetongue) and also of serotype 1 of that virus on southern
Europe.
Bluetongue can cause spectacular disease outbreaks and is an OIE (Office
International des Epizooties) listed disease.
For more details, click on the OIE technical card
on Bluetongue.
Read the Questions & Answers on Bluetongue
View the infoclip on Bluetongue Virus
The Commission carries out continuous monitoring of
the evolution of bluetongue and takes actions when appropriate to minimize the
impact of the disease in the Community.
All presentations given during the meetings of the
Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health can be found here
(for 2006, see the summary reports for links to the presentations).
EFSA
EFSA has provided scientific assistance to the
Commission. The scientific opinions and scientific reports issued by EFSA in
relation to Bluetongue can be found in the
EFSA webpages.
Council Directive 2000/75/EC lays down specific provisions for the
control and eradication of Bluetongue. The measures to control and
eradicate the disease include vectors control, (use of insecticides in the
animal premises and in the areas where these insects live, insect repellents
onto animals, mosquitoes nets, etc.), restriction to movements of live
ruminants from affected areas to non-infected regions where the vector is
present and the use of vaccines.
Implementation measures of Directive
2000/75/EC are established on
Commission Regulation (EC) No 1266/2007 that replaced Commission
Decision 2005/393/EC. This Commission Regulation provides for a more
sustainable strategy for the control and eradication of Bluetongue, including
the conditions for exemptions for the exit ban applicable to movements of
susceptible animals and their semen, ova and embryos.
The bluetongue seasonally vector free period' means a seasonal
period as defined in Annex V in an epidemiological relevant geographical area during which, for
a part of the year, there is no evidence of bluetongue virus transmission or adult Culicoides likely to be competent vectors."
Overview seasonally vector free periods 2011-2012
Overview seasonally vector free periods 2010-2011 [Updated 14-04-2011]
Overview seasonally vector free periods 2009-2010 [Updated 27-07-2010]
Overview seasonally vector free periods 2008-2009
Import controls
Measures have been adopted to control the
importations of live animals and their products from third countries affected
by a Bluetongue outbreak on their territory
Commission Decision 2003/845/EC.
Bluetongue is a notifiable disease, according to
Council Directive 82/894/EEC EEC of 21 December 1982 on the notification of
animal diseases within the Community.
Click on ADNS for a description of
the notification system and the latest health situation table.
A video describing the the evolution of the bluetongue outbreaks from 2006 to 2012 can be found here.
Commission Regulation (EC) No 1266/2007 introduces
the obligation for the Member States to carry out bluetongue monitoring
programmes in the restricted zones and surveillance programmes outside the
restricted zones. These programmes must include clinical, serological and
entomological components.
Member States should transmit information on bluetongue gathered in the course of the implementation of the bluetongue monitoring and/or surveillance programmes to the BT-Net system, established by Decision 2007/367/EC. Information can be found on the BlueTongue NET work
application.
The Community reference laboratory (CRL) for
bluetongue is the Institute for Animal Health in Pirbright. http://www.iah.bbsrc.ac.uk
Press Releases
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