Blue -tongue disease spreads: urgent vaccination calls in BW

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in Baden-Württemberg currently the blue-fuel disease is spreading and has now affected at least 94 animal husbandry. This plague, which has spread rapidly within a few months, leads to increasing concern among farmers and authorities. According to the latest information from the Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI), there are already over 4,800 confirmed cases for all of Germany, where only 13 were proven just a few months ago.

On August 8, the first outbreak of the disease was registered in the Rems-Murr district, and since then there have been alarms in other affected areas, such as the Rhein-Neckar district, where quarantine measures were ordered. These health effects urgently require interventions and vaccination measures to which the affected companies rely.

urgent measures required

Federal Minister of Agriculture Cem Özdemir (Greens) has clearly expressed his concern about the situation and called up agriculture to actively take care of vaccinations against the disease. "There is an urgent need for action," he said during an appointment in Ludwigsburg, where he emphasized the extensive spread of the disease. "We now have the vaccine. Now you also have to vaccinate so that we can get it in."

Despite the acute danger, the disease is harmless to humans. The blue -tongue virus is transmitted via certain mosquitoes, and especially sheep and cattle are susceptible. Tim Vinnemann von Fli mentioned that the virus is not transferable to humans and meat and dairy products from affected companies can continue to be consumed.

The different animal husbandry has come under pressure due to the spread. Anette Wohlfarth, Managing Director of the Baden-Württemberg State Shaping Breeding Association, warns that many companies reach their limits. "For some of them, it is simply about existence," she says, underlining the critical situation in which the farmers are located.

an unstoppable course

The current epidemic is caused by the serotype BTV-3, which could cause more and more cases over time. According to the FLI, it can be expected that the infections will continue in the coming year. The situation has developed in recent months through exponential increases in the number of cases similar to a virus tonami. So far there is only no confirmed case of the disease in Berlin.

The rapidly progressing spread of blue -tongue disease already affects various traditional events. For example, the historical performance hats in Markgröningen (Ludwigsburg district) had to be canceled due to the current developments. While this was slightly influenced by the program, the remaining offer remains upright.

The concerns among the farmers continue to increase, and as in the Netherlands, the situation is serious. There the variant first performed in September 2023 and spread similarly quickly. In Germany, the first infection in a sheep posture in North Rhine-Westphalia was confirmed in October 2023, which further reinforced the alarm signs.

vaccinations as the key to fighting

In order to contain the spread of blue -tongue disease, the vaccination of animals is of central importance. If animal owners do not act, this could not only lead to the further spread of the virus, but also endanger the economic stability of many farmers. In view of the numbers and the urgency of the prompt, it is crucial that agriculture becomes active.

effects on agriculture

The current spread of blue -tongue disease has a massive impact on agriculture in the affected area. Sheep and cattle are in particular under pressure. Pet owners report an increased mortality rate and a slump in productivity, which not only endangers the income of the companies, but also influences the entire supply chain. The German Farmers' Association warns that many small and medium -sized businesses are existentially threatened because the economic losses from the plague can be enormous.

An important aspect is the quarantine that has become necessary in several regions. These measures lead to restrictions in the trade in living animals and animal products and also make it difficult to market meat and milk, which results in additional financial losses.

vaccination campaign and challenges

The vaccination campaign that Federal Minister of Agriculture Cem Özdemir initiated is crucial for the containment of the plague. Mobilizations were started to inform the farmers and to encourage vaccination. However, the major challenge is to coordinate the vaccinations and the procurement of the vaccine, which is internationally limited. In addition, the trust of pet owners is important in the effectiveness of the vaccination program, since some of them have concerns about the security and efficiency of vaccination.

The Baden-Württemberg State Court of Association has already offered support and wants to accompany the pet owners during the vaccination campaign. It remains to be seen how the implementation of the vaccination campaigns will work in the coming weeks, especially if further cases should occur.

Scientific studies on blue -tongue disease

Scientific studies have shown that the effects of animal diseases such as blue -tongue disease have both economic and ecological dimensions. For example, it was found that the loss of cattle stocks not only affects production capacity, but also has long -term effects on biodiversity and agricultural practice. Specialist conferences and research projects initiated by the Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI) aim to better understand the spread of the virus and to develop strategies to improve illness monitoring.

In particular in recent years, climate changes and changed agricultural practices have contributed to the spread of diseases. Mosquito populations that act as a carrier benefit from warmer temperatures, which also increases the intensity and frequency of outbreaks. The connection between climate change and animal health is a topic that is increasingly treated in research.

health security of food

The good news for consumers is that the blue -tung disease is not transferable to humans. According to the official guidelines of the FLI, meat and dairy products from infected animals can be consumed without hesitation as long as the corresponding hygiene standards are observed. So public health is not in danger of calming information for consumers. Nevertheless, market uncertainty and possible trade restrictions due to animal disease could influence consumption behavior.

Despite the health of health, the question arises as to how long consumers will keep trust in the products from affected regions. A more transparent communication of the authorities and a clear risk assessment are crucial to maintain the public's trust in food safety.