Jersey’s veterinary officer has confirmed that Schmallenberg virus has been discovered in sheep on the island. The virus has so far only been discovered on one farm on Jersey.

The Channel Islands are well within the ‘at risk’ zone identified by AHVLA modelling, which shows areas likely to be affected by infected midges being blown to parts of the UK from mainland Europe last autumn. However, AHVLA scientists announced last week that emerging infections in counties previously thought to be ‘low risk’, including Leicestershire and Warwickshire means it is likely domestic midges helped spread the virus in autumn 2011.

Jersey’s chief veterinary officer told BBC Jersey, "Arrangements have been made for a speaker from the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency to come to Jersey and give a presentation on the Schmallenberg virus on 10th April."

The disease, which affects cows, goats, sheep and other ruminants, can lead to spontaneous abortion, still birth or congenital abnormalities in the foetuses of pregnant animals.

Although the European Union has been urged to step up measures to combat the disease, due to its novelty (the virus was first discovered less than a year ago in Germany and was only named in the winter) pathologists have said that at this stage they can only monitor the spread and build knowledge.

Researchers working in France have devised a blood test for SBV, which they say will provide more accurate results. However, there is more work to be done on the test before it can be widely used.

Blood tests conducted on cattle herds in the Netherlands showed a high level of antibodies for SBV, indicating infection may have been more widespread than previously thought. The researchers were cautiously optimistic about their findings, as animals appear to develop immunity to SBV after infection.

There are currently over 2,000 cases of SBV reported in Europe with 190 in the UK. Although the disease is non-notifiable, farmers have been advised to contact their vets with any abnormalities, to help build up a more accurate picture of infection.

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