The latest figures on Schmallenberg Virus, released on Wednesday (27th February), show the disease has spread to over 1,500 farms in the UK. Along with the rise in confirmed cases, the first infections in goat and alpaca populations in the country have been recorded.

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Data collected from AHVLA labs, Scotland's Rural College and Liverpool University show that, throughout the UK, 1,531 cases of SBV had been recorded by Wednesday, compared to 1,211 a month ago. This equates to a 20 percent rise in the number of cases.

Although the number of new cases has risen sharply in the UK, to date there are still no acute cases of the disease in Scotland; all cases of SBV so far reported in Scotland have been in animals introduced from infected areas in England and Wales. However, AHVLA did reveal that, "For the first time Schmallenberg virus antibodies have been detected in blood samples from goats and alpacas," in East Sussex and Northamptonshire respectively.

The agency said that its surveillance data "has become less meaningful," since SBV has been detected in every English and Welsh county, and therefore "statistics for England and Wales will in future be published on a calendar quarterly basis." Authorities in most other affected states in Europe have followed similar courses of action.

However, farmers have expressed frustration at the apparent lack of information from government bodies on the new disease. AHVLA maintains that this is due to the disease's novelty and, at the current stage, monitoring and efforts to develop a vaccine are the only appropriate courses of action. A vaccine is being developed, but the Veterinary Medicines Directorate will not speculate on a possible release date.

The agency added on Wednesday that "Statistics for Scotland will be published as frequently as is necessary to keep farmers informed of the detection and spread of the disease."

Early lambing flocks hardest hit

Scmallenberg Virus was first discovered in late 2011 in Germany. The disease is thought to have spread to counties in the South East of England via biting insects blow across the Channel that year. Last summer, when midges became active once more the disease increased its spread within the UK. Most countries in central and Western Europe have now detected the virus.

Although symptoms of infection vary – with milk drop and fever reported in cattle, but almost no discernible effects at the time of infection in sheep – if animals are infected in early pregnancy, the disease can lead to still birth and congenital abnormalities.

Early lambing flocks were hit especially hard this year and last. However, since January, most new cases of the virus in sheep have been detected in blood tests, rather than foetal malformations (51 new cases from serology, against 21 new cases of foetal malformation), whereas the opposite was true from December to January.

Defra vet Alick Simmons said this week during the NFU conference that, due to the rapid spread of Schmallenberg Virus around the UK, most animals will have been exposed and built up immunity in infected areas. He suggested this could mean the disease is a serious concern for a year or so, but will then become much less of a problem as the national herd becomes immune. He added that, although there have been some devastating losses, the disease's overall impact has been relatively small.

Working with industry groups in Scotland, Wales and England, AHVLA has produced an online survey to gather data that will help build up a picture of the lamb crop for 2013. The agency recommends sheep farmers fill in the short survey, available here, which will remain open until 2013.

Although SBV remains non-notifiable, AHLVA said farmers should contact their veterinarians if they have concerns, and that vets should contact their local AHVLA Investigation Centre if they require advice.

Scientists in Belgium last month called for more research into the effect the virus is having on Europe's wildlife, as the disease is known to infect deer.