Schmallenberg Vaccine Announcement Does Not Effect Monitoring Policy

Close monitoring of the Scottish dairy herd will not let up, regardless of this week’s good news about a Schmallenberg virus (SBV) vaccine coming to the UK this summer.

The decision to license the product was issued by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), meaning that cows can be vaccinated before coming pregnant during summer and autumn bulling.

But, NFU Scotland President, Nigel Miller has reassured the dairy industry that Schmallenberg surveillance operations and bulk milk sampling will persist.

His announcement came a week after Biobest and Scottish Rural College tests had confirmed Scotland’s dairy herd as SBV free.

“We will continue to monitor our network of dairy herds across Scotland to track the spread of SBV to allow farmers and vets the chance to plan their strategies for dealing with the disease,” said Mr Miller.

“Our experience and knowledge of SBV is less than three years old and researchers across Europe continue to learn more about the virus each month.”

And while Mr Miller credited scientists and licensing authorities for developing and approving a vaccine so soon, he stated diligence is required to monitor cow health to avoid midges reigniting the problem as temperatures rise in the coming weeks.

“We know the virus can over-winter and with temperatures now rising, there is likely to be more activity in the coming months.

“Our experience and knowledge of SBV is less than three years old and researchers across Europe continue to learn more about the virus each month,” he said.

Fast action on behalf of the VMD and developers MSD means farmers now have an answer to the virus before the next breeding season, according to Andras Bolcskei, Country Manager, MSD Animal Health UK.

The company has announced the vaccine is based on a wild-type SBV available in 20 ml and 100ml vials.

While clear direction is being taken over SBV in Scotland, less certainty was to be found during national level discussions earlier in the month.

Global risks of SBV were evaluated by a technical panel of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

During the seminar, national representatives from Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan insisted that OIE notifiable disease criteria are extended to all disease.

Currently, SBV is a notifiable virus which has been reported to the OIE by 19 of its member nations.
Desired changes of some representatives would see SBV listed against new criteria.