Two farms closed

Bluetongue now also in Upper Austria

After cases of bluetongue have already been reported from several federal states in recent weeks, it has now also been detected in two cattle in Upper Austria. The two affected farms in the Steyr Land district have been officially closed.

The diagnosis was made during a routine blood test as part of the bluetongue monitoring program. So far, however, there are no infected animals on either farm and the two cattle that tested positive are clinically healthy. If symptoms of the disease do occur, the animals must be treated.

For the time being, no animals may be brought in or out for two weeks, said state veterinary director Thomas Hain on Wednesday.

Mosquitoes are to blame
According to Hain, there is no danger to humans. The disease, which is transmitted by mosquitoes, mainly affects cattle, sheep, goats and other ruminants. Due to the transmission route, the virus disease is expected to spread further.

In Europe, serotype 3 in particular is currently spreading rapidly, leading to particularly severe clinical symptoms. Vaccination against serotype 3 cannot completely prevent the infection, but does lead to a significant alleviation of symptoms, according to a press release from the province of Upper Austria.