Bluetongue Strikes in Montenegro, Hungary
EUROPE – Montenegro and Hungary are the latest nations to confirm Bluetongue virus outbreaks, joining a growing list of infected countries in the Balkans region.
21 October 2014
1 minute read
The virus is affecting mostly cattle farms, according to latest announcements from the World Organisation for Animal Health.
The two countries join a list of neighbours with serotype four this month; Macedonia, Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, Serbia, Albania and Turkey, which has reported no cases since an extensive vaccination programme was undertaken.
Of the two Hungary is worst affected, seeing a cluster of outbreaks in the southern region of Csongrad hosting cases in eleven cattle over seven farms.
One sheep, which later died, was confirmed positive.
This is since the first Hungarian case, also in Congrad, in 14 cattle.
Montenegro’s central region of Danilovgrad has had one case on a cattle farm.
Meanwhile, Italy continues to combat serotype one, last reported to be widespread across central and southern areas, mainly in the west.
Turkish control efforts vaccinated 340,000 sheep in the western Kirklarelli region, where the outbreak has been contained.
TheCattleSite News Desk
