Ronan O’Neill, virology division of the Department of Agriculture (pictured below), told the crowd at the CAVI conference that the results so far this year have shown the rate of spread of Schmallenberg to have slowed greatly on last year.
The reason for this is not known conclusively, but he said that low wind levels over the summer and the prolonged cold spring may have had an effect on the speed of spread. So far, neither Sligo nor Athlone Regional Veterinary labs have recorded the presence of the virus.
He said that up until now, the spread of animal diseases depended on direct or indirect contact between animals, or via materials closely associated with animals.
The arrival of Schmallenberg disease was the onset of a new era as it is a vector-born disease carried by the midge, of which there are 25 different species in Ireland.
He said that this makes the disease seasonal, with mid to late summer being the peak time for its spread. However, during this period, animals are most commonly pregnant.
O’Neill said that the disease is extremely hard to control as once it has entered an area, it will persist there, even without the presence of livestock. In addition, the normal biosecurity precautions are ineffective.
Mixing of infected and non-infected animals will not guarantee exposure. He said that the disease has been classified as a low impact disease.
However, he acknowledged that, in some flocks, it will have a significant effect due to combinations of compact breeding and vector exposure.
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