“We have had a good spring, there has been a drop in feed prices and we have historic sales prices for lambs. “Now this disaster is happening to us.” This statement belongs to Rafael Chávez, a rancher from Extremadura, who summarized the newspaper a few days ago as follows. Today He views with despair the outbreaks of bluetongue virus recorded on sheep farms in Spain, which have prompted administrations to mobilize vaccines. There is anxiety. Particularly in Extremadura, with serotype 3 outbreaks coming at a sensitive time for the industry, with the Christmas campaign already looming (not too far away).

The real question is… What will your final balance be?

What is blue tongue? It is an important viral disease due to its impact on livestock. Its distinctive name is taken from one of the symptoms exhibited by infected animals, although it is not the most common. In addition to fever, bleeding, excessive salivation, diarrhea, or weight loss, sick animals’ tongues may become “blue” due to inadequate oxygenation.

The World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) offers a set of keys to help better understand the disease: it is not contagious, it is transmitted by the bite of certain mosquitoes (culicoids) and the virus that causes it, family ReoviridaeMany different serotypes are known. Among the animals it affects are species that have an important place in the Spanish economy, such as sheep, cattle and goats.

Why is it important? Due to its effect on infected animals. The “blue tongue” has a long history of cases that have significantly affected the livestock industry. WOAH reminds that nearly 70 years ago, in 1956, an epidemic detected in Portugal and Spain with a “virulent strain” of the virus caused the death of approximately 46,000 sheep in the first country and 133,000 in the second. The same organization reminds that 24 different serotypes have been identified and “the ability of each type to cause disease varies significantly.”

Are we processing more data? Yes, but it is advisable to handle them with some responsibility. Whether the disease strikes more or less strongly depends partly on the species. The most serious symptoms are seen in sheep. Among them, the disease can spread widely, with a morbidity rate of up to 100%; This is particularly important considering the symptoms experienced by infected animals, such as fever, miscarriage, weight loss, “interruption of wool growth.” ”And even death.

The average mortality rate ranges from 2 to 30 percent, according to WOAH, but officials also warn that the figure can reach 70 percent in the most susceptible breeds. For example, a serotype 3 outbreak of the virus was detected in the Évora region of Portugal a few weeks ago. In this case, data from France and the Netherlands, affected by the epidemic, indicate that the mortality rate in sheep is between 10% and 25%.

What is the situation in Spain? The disease has spread in different outbreaks over the past few weeks. Data received from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) provides easy and fast monitoring. In June, a serotype 8 outbreak was reported on a farm with 772 sheep and 59 goats in Girona, just 30 km from France. The last similar case was reported on Bizkaia at the end of 2020.

A few months later, at the beginning of September, MAPA warned of another serotype 8 case in Mallorca, weeks later reported another serotype 1 case in Extremadura, and launched a new alert on the 30th. Detection of three serotype 3 outbreaks of the virus on separate sheep farms spread across the provinces of Badajoz and Huelva. The farms were located roughly near the Portuguese border, where a case of the same type was detected a few weeks ago.

Is serotype 3 important? This latest report of serotype 3 has brought greater prominence to the disease due to its possible impact. After all, this is a variant of “particular concern”, as MAPA had already noticed following the case detected in Portugal in September. Luis Planas ministry explains: “It causes severe clinical symptoms and high mortality rates (between 10 and 25%) in sheep, as well as losses in milk production in cattle; deaths are not excluded on the affected farms.”

Since October 2023, it has spread to different countries in Europe, including the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Czech Republic, France, the United Kingdom and Portugal, and cases have been reported throughout this period . or last year. The MAPA statement was also accompanied by a warning to remain calm: Bluetongue is a viral disease that affects different species of ruminant animals, but not humans.

What was the response? Move tab. At the end of September, after the Évora case at the Spanish border was reported, the Government announced the purchase of 655,000 doses of vaccine against bluetongue virus serotype 3. The management also targeted 15 million euros; He stated that it should be completed by as many people as possible from autonomous communities to support livestock farmers against losses that the virus may cause them due to the death of animals or extra expenses.

Regional governments such as the Junta de Extremadura, Andalusia or Castilla y León have already taken different steps to obtain vaccines that will prevent the spread of the disease. For example, a few days ago the Extremaduran Government announced that it had booked almost one and a half million doses of vaccine against bluetongue serotype 3; He stated that this vaccine will be added to the approximately 175,000 vaccines distributed by the central Government.

What do farm owners say? They do not hide their concerns. Especially due to outbreaks recorded in Extremadura. Extremadura Gazette Yesterday he published an article mentioning some dead sheep and quoting a local farmer lamenting the impact of bluetongue on his farm. “It puts my whole life ahead of me.” He’s not the only one. Daily TodayHe also spoke to another person who lost 32 ewes and about 40 lambs in one week, and died shortly after birth due to inability to receive breast milk or outright abortion.

“This is a disaster of unknown magnitude. Every day animals die or get sick, and many of them, especially mother ewes and lambs, will not survive,” he laments. Concern extends to other parts of Spain where cases have not yet been detected, but they are afraid to suffer the consequences. There are those who believe that measures to stop the spread of infections have arrived late, at least in some of the affected areas: “We have already swallowed the strong wave of bluetongue infections in Extremadura.”

Does timing matter? “Yes, the blow of the blue tongue has arrived,” rancher Rafael Chavez tells the newspaper. TodayAfter a “good spring”. “There has been a decrease in feed prices and we have historical sales prices for lambs. But now, in the middle of lambing, this disaster is happening to us,” he laments. Mario Mera Gómez-Bravo, Head of Protected Geographical Indication for lambs in Corderex Extremadura pasture, also warned the Efe agency about the effects the disease could have on production if the scenario is not changed as soon as possible. over the next month. Note that this is because fall is a key time for the industry. “There is a very important breeding pen that is needed for Christmas,” he recalls: “It will be important to have freedom of movement there within a month, otherwise production would be seriously affected.”

Compiled statements agree with the statement: “Without vaccines, the Christmas campaign will go to hell” Economist Carmen Gómez Cosme is an Extremaduran farmer with a farm of 150 sheep. The regional industry is already looking forward to the Christmas campaign and the possible impact of the disease on businesses; But there are divided opinions between those who fear he may be in danger and those who think it’s too early to know.