Second case of bluetongue virus detected in Danish sheep

A second outbreak of the contagious bluetongue virus has been confirmed in a Danish sheep and cattle farm in Varde, just days after the first case in 15 years. The infected farm is now under public supervision. Bluetongue virus, not transmissible to humans, can be fatal for animals like cattle, sheep, goats, and deer. Affected animals may exhibit symptoms such as head swelling, mouth sores, lameness, miscarriages, and the sheep’s namesake bluish tongue. Described as prolonged and painful, culling is often the only humane option. Bluetongue can spread across farms via midges, a type of insect, as well as through semen and from cow to calf during pregnancy. The outbreak endangers Denmark’s bluetongue-free international status, consequently halting exports of live cattle, bull semen, and impacting other products like beef and dairy. The Danish Veterinary Consortium previously predicted the bluetongue arrival following cases in Germany, Belgium, UK, and the Netherlands.