Belgians abolish reporting requirement for bluetongue and EHD

Published Sep 16, 2024

Tridge summary

The article highlights recent changes by the FAVV in Belgium, abolishing the reimbursement for samples requested by agricultural entrepreneurs for bluetongue and Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) tests due to aims to reduce administrative burdens and costs. With EHD detected across Belgium and the Netherlands, where it is a notifiable disease leading to transport restrictions, new measures such as mandatory veterinarian examinations and blood sampling for animals arriving from affected countries, along with cattle and deer isolation and midge treatment in Belgium, are in place to limit disease spread. A lack of vaccines for EHD means the production of autovaccines and live vaccines with weakened strains is prohibited to prevent further spread.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

Agricultural entrepreneurs can continue to voluntarily request a sample from their veterinarian. However, this examination will no longer be reimbursed by the FAVV. The amended regulations will come into effect from today (Monday 16 September). By abolishing the reporting obligation, the agency hopes to limit the administrative burden and costs as much as possible. The bluetongue virus has now been found in all parts of Belgium. In addition, it is difficult to distinguish between bluetongue and EHD based on clinical symptoms. The latter is a viral disease transmitted by midges that mainly causes clinical symptoms in deer. Cattle can also become quite ill from it. The virus attacks the inside of the blood vessels, followed by oedema, bleeding and wounds. Sheep and goats can be carriers of the virus, but do not become ill from it. Reporting obligation in the Netherlands EHD is a notifiable disease in the Netherlands. The virus first appeared in Europe in October 2022 and has quickly ...

Source: Nieuwe Oogst