Switzerland will be able to vaccinate against blue tongue disease

In French-speaking Switzerland and Ticino, serotype 8 is more prevalent, unlike the cantons of north-eastern Switzerland, where serotype 3 is more present. “While the symptoms are much the same, the disease caused by serotype 8 appears to spread more slowly. In the canton of Vaud, the diagnosis was made in 88 sheep and cattle farms (85 times serotype 8 and 3 times serotype 3). But only a minority of animals develop severe symptoms,” says Giovanni Peduto, cantonal veterinarian. The latter indicates that around forty sheep died due to the disease or were euthanized, like four cattle. He notes that the loss of animals and loss of production can have serious economic repercussions on farms.