The problem for veterinary and livestock production in Europe is that three recently developed vaccines against the virus have failed to stop the spread of the disease. A highly virulent form of bluetongue (the BTV-3 strain) is transmitted through insect bites, making cattle sick and killing sheep.
The disease spreads rapidly, even among vaccinated animals. The economic damage from an outbreak caused by the BTV-3 strain could amount to hundreds of millions of euros. The cause of the virus is unknown, but climate change is likely to contribute to its spread.
According to Science, bluetongue was first identified in South Africa in the 18th century and although it does not infect humans, it causes great damage to livestock, especially sheep. The disease is considered persistent and poses a significant threat to agriculture.
Source: Ferra
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