Netherlands: Excess mortality among sheep due to bluetongue was higher in 2024 than in 2023

In 2024, the virus infected more farms compared to 2023. Compared to the years before bluetongue, the size of the sheep population decreased by 20%. The number of dead sheep in 2024 was more than 65,000 more, which is higher than the more than 55,000 dead sheep more in 2023, compared to 2020 to 2022. In addition, mortality due to red abomasal worm disease in lambs was frequently reported in 2024. At farm level, mortality in lambs due to bluetongue in 2024 was comparable to 2023. Mortality in adult sheep was significantly lower in 2024 than in 2023, although it was still increased compared to bluetongue-free years. The extent to which vaccination played a role in this is still being investigated. In 2024, the bluetongue virus also spread further among dairy goats and more farms were infected. This resulted in over 5,000 more dead goats compared to over 1,000 more dead goats in 2023, compared to the period 2020 to 2022. At farm level, goat mortality increased ...