Gert van der Hoek
In Memoriam - Editor, Senior Moderator
Re: Schmallenbergvirus : new Akabane-like virus in cattle and sheep in Europe
Re: Schmallenbergvirus : new Akabane-like virus in cattle and sheep in Europe
EU-document:[/I]
Statement on the Schmallenberg Virus Situation Issued by
the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH)
11 January 2012
The information presented by Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium at the meeting of 11
January 2012 shows that a newly detected virus has circulated in the second semester 2011
amongst livestock ruminants causing non-specific clinical signs in cattle and congenital
malformations, mainly in sheep and more seldom in cattle and goats.
The Member States and the Commission acknowledge the efforts made by these three
Member States to provide the best possible scientific information on the risks posed by this
virus, in full transparency.
The virus in question belongs to the Bunyaviridae family, genus Orthobunyavirus and has
been tentatively named "Schmallenberg virus". This virus belongs to a vector-transmitted
group of viruses making direct transmission from animal to animal unlikely. However, vertical
transmission from dam to newborn via the intrauterine route does occur as with other similar
viruses. This group of viruses very often are associated with mild clinical signs of disease or
with subclinical infection in ruminants.
So far, cases of disease have been detected in 20 farms in Germany (in cattle and sheep), in
52 farms in the Netherlands (in sheep, and one case in goat), and in 14 farms in Belgium (in
sheep, only). No clear geographical clusters of these cases has been shown, so far. This may
suggest that the undetected subclinical cases of infection in ruminants may be many more,
but the current lack of serological tests renders epidemiological investigations difficult.
Although the congenital malformation in newborn animals have been detected recently and
are still being detected in these days, they are most likely caused by transmission of virus by
insect vectors that occurred in summer and early autumn, during pregnancy.
There is no evidence that the Schmallenberg virus could cause illness in humans. The Member
States and the Commission took note of the preliminary assessment carried out by the
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) on the zoonotic risks of the
Schmallenberg virus which indicates that "it is unlikely that this virus can cause disease in
humans, but it cannot be completely excluded at this stage1".
The Member States and the Commission recognise that the information on the Schmallenberg
virus is still fragmented and mostly extrapolated from data available on genetically similar
viruses in the Orthobunyaviridae genus (Simbu serogroup, like the Akabane virus). The
situation needs to be reassessed once new data will be available. Awareness should be
improved amongst veterinary services and stakeholders in order to better understand and
address the possible risks associated with this virus.
Given that this virus is likely transmitted by means of insect vectors, further virus circulation
in the current winter is unlikely to occur. This will allow Member States time to gather further
data and to plan further actions in view of a possible reoccurrence of disease in spring and
summer.
The Member States and the Commission consider that it is therefore necessary to continue
field investigations and surveys on this virus that would generate data on which the possible
disease control measures should be based. They therefore agree to develop a guidance
document on surveillance as a matter of urgency.
The Member States also invited the Commission to identify possible ways to provide financial
support to the above investigations.
Re: Schmallenbergvirus : new Akabane-like virus in cattle and sheep in Europe
EU-document:[/I]
Statement on the Schmallenberg Virus Situation Issued by
the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH)
11 January 2012
The information presented by Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium at the meeting of 11
January 2012 shows that a newly detected virus has circulated in the second semester 2011
amongst livestock ruminants causing non-specific clinical signs in cattle and congenital
malformations, mainly in sheep and more seldom in cattle and goats.
The Member States and the Commission acknowledge the efforts made by these three
Member States to provide the best possible scientific information on the risks posed by this
virus, in full transparency.
The virus in question belongs to the Bunyaviridae family, genus Orthobunyavirus and has
been tentatively named "Schmallenberg virus". This virus belongs to a vector-transmitted
group of viruses making direct transmission from animal to animal unlikely. However, vertical
transmission from dam to newborn via the intrauterine route does occur as with other similar
viruses. This group of viruses very often are associated with mild clinical signs of disease or
with subclinical infection in ruminants.
So far, cases of disease have been detected in 20 farms in Germany (in cattle and sheep), in
52 farms in the Netherlands (in sheep, and one case in goat), and in 14 farms in Belgium (in
sheep, only). No clear geographical clusters of these cases has been shown, so far. This may
suggest that the undetected subclinical cases of infection in ruminants may be many more,
but the current lack of serological tests renders epidemiological investigations difficult.
Although the congenital malformation in newborn animals have been detected recently and
are still being detected in these days, they are most likely caused by transmission of virus by
insect vectors that occurred in summer and early autumn, during pregnancy.
There is no evidence that the Schmallenberg virus could cause illness in humans. The Member
States and the Commission took note of the preliminary assessment carried out by the
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) on the zoonotic risks of the
Schmallenberg virus which indicates that "it is unlikely that this virus can cause disease in
humans, but it cannot be completely excluded at this stage1".
The Member States and the Commission recognise that the information on the Schmallenberg
virus is still fragmented and mostly extrapolated from data available on genetically similar
viruses in the Orthobunyaviridae genus (Simbu serogroup, like the Akabane virus). The
situation needs to be reassessed once new data will be available. Awareness should be
improved amongst veterinary services and stakeholders in order to better understand and
address the possible risks associated with this virus.
Given that this virus is likely transmitted by means of insect vectors, further virus circulation
in the current winter is unlikely to occur. This will allow Member States time to gather further
data and to plan further actions in view of a possible reoccurrence of disease in spring and
summer.
The Member States and the Commission consider that it is therefore necessary to continue
field investigations and surveys on this virus that would generate data on which the possible
disease control measures should be based. They therefore agree to develop a guidance
document on surveillance as a matter of urgency.
The Member States also invited the Commission to identify possible ways to provide financial
support to the above investigations.
