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
Restriction zones established by the Member States
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:
- map [Updated 16-03-2012]
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.
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]
Trans-placental transmission of bluetongue virus
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
Bluetongue serotypes 6 and 11 vaccine-like strains circulation
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.
- Detailed epidemiological reports on the BTV6 and BTV11 vaccine strain situation have been presented to this SCoFCAH by the Netherlands
- Report of the Emergency Veterinary Team on the mission to the Netherlands from 2-5 November 2008.
- Updates from Member States affected by bluetongue are regularly presented to the SCoFCAH..
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 -
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 -
Trans-placental Transmission Field Trial Of Btv-1 in Spain
Luis José Romero, Epidemiology Unit, Subdirectorate General for Animal Health -
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.
Questions & Answers on Bluetongue
Read the Questions & Answers on Bluetongue
View the infoclip on Bluetongue Virus
Bluetongue situation in the EU Member States
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.
Control measures established by the Member States
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.
Seasonally vector free period
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.
Notification and Health Situation
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.
Bluetongue monitoring and surveillance
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.
Community Reference Laboratory
The Community reference laboratory (CRL) for bluetongue is the Institute for Animal Health in Pirbright. http://www.iah.bbsrc.ac.uk
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