Bluetongue disease has been detected in livestock in the Eifel district of Bitburg-Prüm. The State Investigation Office (LUA) in Koblenz said it was the latest variant of BTV-8. The Friedrich Loeffler Institute confirmed the findings. Reasonable Rheinland-Pfalz has now been declared a containment zone. This means that cattle, goats, sheep, llamas and alpacas may only be transported abroad if a blood test has previously been carried out to ensure that the animal is not sick.
However, there are no restrictions within the zone. The virus is not dangerous to humans, and milk and meat are also more susceptible to disease Animal can be consumed safely. In animals, this disease can cause symptoms such as fever, apathy, unwillingness to eat, swelling of the head, tongue and lips, as well as redness and swelling of the mucous membranes. “Lameness, namely dragging of the feet when walking, a significant decrease in breast milk supply, and miscarriage were also observed,” said LUA.
Cases were proven in the Saarpfalz district in early November
As a precaution, as many susceptible animals as possible should be vaccinated against bluetongue virus. A case was detected in the Saarpfalz district of Saarland in early November. As a result, an exclusion zone at least 150 kilometers long was declared, stretching far into other federal states. In Rhineland-Pfalz, all districts were affected except Altenkirchen district.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:251126-930-344529/1
