Schmallenberg Update: Cases in Cattle Up

EU - The Schmallenberg virus has been found in cattle in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, the UK and Luxembourg, Spain and Italy. The total number of cases for cattle, sheep and goats, more than doubled in one month.

11 April 2012

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The Schmallenberg virus (SBV) has been found in cattle in Germany (243), the Netherlands (124), Belgium (121), France (76), the UK (25) and Luxembourg (1). In Italy, the SBV has been detected on a goat farm and in Spain on a sheep farm. In total 2,923 cases have been confirmed, of which 590 cases are in cattle. A month ago, 1,290 cases were found of which 305 were in cattle.

Most of the cases are reported in Germany.

The following countries imposed restrictions on livestock and products imports from the EU: Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Ukraine, Turkey, Egypt, Kuwait, Lebanon, Algeria, Jordan, Morocco, Japan, Mexico, Argentina, Uruguay and the US.

The Russian authorities banned live cattle and swine imports from the EU as of March 20.

Turkey is reportedly not granting import licenses anymore. This is anticipated to cause about three months of trade standstill. As a consequence cattle exports are forecast to fall about 200,000 head from the forecast in the EU Livestock Semi Annual. These lower exports are expected to increase domestic slaughter as well as ending inventories in 2012.