Portugal detects serotype 3 of bluetongue in three sheep farms

Portugal's official veterinary services have detected serotype 3 of the bluetongue virus on three sheep farms in Torre de Coelheiros (Évora Region), in the south of the country. The Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) has reported that the animals on the affected farms showed symptoms compatible with the disease and several of them have died. In addition, they have reported several clinical suspicions on farms located in the same municipality, which are currently in the process of confirmation. The Portuguese authorities have sent samples for sequencing to the Central Veterinary Laboratory in Algete (Madrid), the European Reference Laboratory for the disease, in order to help determine the possible origin of the virus. According to the Ministry, serotype 3 of bluetongue causes severe clinical symptoms and high mortality in sheep (between 10 and 25%), as well as clinical symptoms in cattle with losses in milk production, although mortality in affected farms ...