This was one of the reasons given by a Department of Agriculture official to explain how the virus spreads and the speed at which it moved across Europe since it was first discovered in the German town of Schmallenberg in October 2011.

The virus is currently a hot topic of conversation among farmers, and the fact that over 200 farmers attended an information meeting on the disease in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, last week signifies the concern felt at farm level.

Sixty four herds across 10 counties have now confirmed cases of the Schmallenberg virus.

As the virus continues to spread across the country, farmers are becoming increasingly anxious and look to gain a better understanding of it.

Bernard Bradshaw from the Department of Agriculture acknowledged that there is probably an underestimate of affected herds. He told the meeting that most herds in the south-east that experienced the virus this spring should have immunity for next year, but it is probably necessary for farms in the west and northwest to vaccinate for the virus before the next breeding season, if the vaccine is available on time.

“It is difficult to predict what will happen for the remainder of the spring, it depends what happened last autumn,” he said.

If animals are bitten during the ‘critical’ stage of pregnancy by an infected midge, the foetus is malformed.

The critical stage for cows is during months two to four, and month two in sheep. Serological testing by the Department found that the virus was circulating from August of last year.

Cows calving in April were said to be calving at a ‘dangerous time’ as we know there were infected midges present during the critical time of pregnancy.

The virus is currently affecting both cattle and sheep, but the malformations are generally more pronounced in lambs than calves.

Worryingly, Bernard Bradshaw pointed out that the larvae of midges can carry the virus which helps the virus survive the winter period.

He said that the virus has also been found in semen which was described as a worry for trade purposes. Around one in every 200 Irish midges were said to be carrying the disease

Shane McGuckian, a vet in Co Wexford, explained that he has dealt with twice the normal number of lambing cases since Christmas and said that Schmallenberg was responsible for the increase.

He explained that a lot of sheep farms are running at about 15% losses, however one of his clients scanned 1.6 lambs per ewe and averaged one live lamb per ewe.

“Delivering these malformed fetuses can be very difficult and it could affect fertility later this year,” he said.

Bernard Bradshaw explained that 51% of herds tested by the Department tested positive for Schmallenberg antibodies which means that they were exposed to the virus.

In Waterford, 95% of herds tested positive for antibodies, Wexford was 93% positive, Wicklow was 85% and Carlow 77%. As we move further west, the rate dropped – Offaly tested 10% positive. “There are no confirmed cases above the Dublin to Limerick line,” he said.

Continental Europe has reported over 6,000 confirmed cases and there has been over 1,200 in Britain.

Generally, 4% to 6% of herds are affected and the incidence rate within herds is 2% to 5%. These figures can rise substantially in farms with a compact lambing or calving or where a synchronised breeding programme was used. Cases of up to 50% have been reported.

“While Europe describes Schmallenberg as a low impact disease, for individual farms it can be devastating,” said Bernard.

Shane McGuckian explained that his veterinary practice was also seeing quite a large number of dummy calves which take a lot of time and effort, and typically don’t survive. One dairy herd had 14 dummy calves.

“Farmers getting calves with these signs are encouraged to bring it to the lab. The disease is more obvious in lambs. Hopefully, all herds exposed this year will be immune to the virus next year as there is no vaccine or treatment available,” he said.

IFA national sheep chairman James Murphy informed Bernard Bradshaw that farmers are dependant on the Department for advice on what to do.

He told the meeting that the Schmallenberg virus caused a 7% mortality rate in his 200 lambs. “It’s not a low key disease when you have it,” he said.

The IFA chairman said that earlier lambing flocks were definitely affected worse that ewes lambing now. This could be because the ewes were exposed to the virus before pregnancy so were immune at the critical stage of pregnancy.

As we are one year behind Britain and rest of Europe, we need to learn from them. He pointed out that lots of pedigree sheep lamb early and suffered high losses.

“Farmers need to be assured that if their herds don’t have immunity, that there will be a vaccine,” said James Murphy.