After cases of bluetongue were reported in several states in recent weeks, the disease has now also been found in two cattle in Upper Austria. The two affected businesses in the Steyr Land district are officially closed.
The discovery was made during a routine blood test as part of the bluetongue surveillance program. However, so far there are no sick animals on either farm and the two cattle that tested positive are also clinically healthy. If symptoms of disease do occur, the animals must be treated.
For the time being, animals are not allowed to be brought in or out for two weeks, State Veterinary Director Thomas Hain said on Wednesday.
Mosquitoes are to blame
There is no danger to humans, Hain said. The disease, which is transmitted by mosquitoes, mainly affects cattle, sheep, goats and other ruminants. Due to the route of transmission, the viral disease should be expected to continue to spread.
Serotype 3 in particular is currently spreading rapidly in Europe and leads to particularly severe clinical symptoms. A vaccination against serotype 3 cannot completely prevent the infection, but it does lead to significant relief of symptoms, the state of Upper Austria said in a press release.
Source: Krone
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