Schmallenberg virus has been identified for the first time in Oxfordshire. Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency announced on Monday that the novel virus, which affects ruminants and can cause stillbirth or congenital deformities in foetuses, was discovered on a cattle farm in the county.

Although the number of sheep farms where SBV has been detected remains static, cases in cattle continue to rise. AHVLA said this is in line with their modelling which shows all cases currently being reported were transmitted by midges in autumn last year and, as cattle have a longer gestation period than sheep, these cases are only now coming to light as animals affected during pregnancy begin to give birth.

The agency said Oxfordshire had previously been identified as being ‘at risk’ of midge incursion. There are currently 274 UK farms reporting Schmallenberg infection; of these 52 are cattle premises, 219 are sheep and three have discovered the virus in both sheep and cattle. In continental Europe the disease has been found to affect bison and goats.  

There have been an estimated 4,719 cases of Schmallenberg virus reported across eight infected member states.  

AHVLA is running an online questionnaire, available here, until 15th July to help build up a picture of the effect SBV has had on UK farming. The agency is asking that even farmers not directly affected by SBV take the time to fill in the questionnaire; all data collected will be confidential. A Welsh language version of the survey is also available.

Tweet