"The affected livestock is now subject to movement restrictions for a short period while we investigate the extent of the outbreak," says Kristina Mieziewska, infectious disease control officer at the Swedish Board of Agriculture, in a press release on Friday morning when an infection was confirmed in a cow in Uddevalla municipality.
A few hours later, the SVA announces that another case has been confirmed, this time in a cattle animal in Halland.
The SVA says that the cases did not come as a surprise, given that there have been recent cases in both Denmark and Norway. They also expect more cases in Sweden, but note that it usually affects individual animals.
Bluetongue cannot infect humans. The viral disease affects ruminants such as cattle, sheep, and goats. The virus does not spread between animals, but through an insect. The symptoms can be mild but also lead to severe illness and death.
Today, there is no requirement for animals to be vaccinated in Europe, unlike during the major outbreak in 2008. Now, it is voluntary for EU countries to combat the disease.
Based on the current situation, the disease will not be combated nationally in Sweden.
"Bluetongue does not spread between animals, but through midges. This makes it difficult to protect one's animals, but it has been seen that installing screens for the animals can reduce midge attacks and thus prevent the spread of disease," says Erika Chenais, state veterinarian at the SVA, in a press release.
