Blue tongue disease is spreading in Switzerland, and especially in the Jura. A total of 956 sheep and cow farms were affected at the start of the week, according to a list from the Federal Office of Food Safety and Veterinary Affairs (FSVO).
The disease, detected in practically all of Switzerland, is particularly present in the canton of Jura, with more than 170 farms affected by serotype 3. The rest of French-speaking Switzerland is very little affected by this form of the virus.
After the Jura, the cantons of Aargau, Thurgau, Basel-Landschaft, Bern and Zurich come. In Aargau, the pathogen has been detected in 134 farms since the first case at the end of August, the cantonal department of health and social affairs said in a press release on Wednesday.
Blue tongue disease is transmitted by bites from ceratopogonids (small mosquitoes). The infection causes, particularly in sheep, serious symptoms, such as fever, inflammation of the mucous membranes, edema and lameness. The virus poses no risk of infection to humans.
Measures against the spread
Authorities have ordered measures aimed at reducing the spread. Due to the high number of cases of epizootics in Switzerland, the cantonal veterinarians have, however, decided, in agreement with the FOAG, to adapt them.
Ruminants may be stabled without authorization from the cantonal veterinarian and sick animals must not be transported, except for slaughter. The handover of healthy animals to another farm requires a document as well as authorization from the cantonal authority.
First case in Switzerland in 2007
Since the 2000s, the disease has spread in Europe. Serotype 8 reached Switzerland for the first time in 2007. Between 2008 and 2010, Switzerland carried out an extensive vaccination program. The case announced at the end of August was the first since 2020. Since 2023, serotype 3 has spread rapidly in Europe. It has now reached Switzerland from the north.
Although there are vaccines against these different types of viruses, they are either not authorized or not available in Switzerland at present, the Valais veterinary service indicated last week.
/ATS
