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Vaccine for Schmallenberg virus 'available this summer' | Vaccine for Schmallenberg virus 'available this summer' |
(about 9 hours later) | |
A vaccine to protect sheep and cattle from a virus spread by midges has been approved by government vets. | A vaccine to protect sheep and cattle from a virus spread by midges has been approved by government vets. |
The virus, which emerged in the Netherlands and Germany in 2011, can lead to sheep and cattle having stillborn or deformed offspring. | The virus, which emerged in the Netherlands and Germany in 2011, can lead to sheep and cattle having stillborn or deformed offspring. |
The disease has spread to every county in England and Wales, and was recently reported in Scotland. | The disease has spread to every county in England and Wales, and was recently reported in Scotland. |
Schmallenberg virus (SBV) causes fever, diarrhoea and loss of milk production in adult cattle. | Schmallenberg virus (SBV) causes fever, diarrhoea and loss of milk production in adult cattle. |
The first SBV vaccine, developed by the animal health company Merck MSD, is expected to be available to UK farmers in the summer. | The first SBV vaccine, developed by the animal health company Merck MSD, is expected to be available to UK farmers in the summer. |
The vaccine is of most use before sheep and cattle become pregnant, as exposure to the virus during pregnancy can cause birth defects in the unborn animal. | The vaccine is of most use before sheep and cattle become pregnant, as exposure to the virus during pregnancy can cause birth defects in the unborn animal. |
Alick Simmons, deputy chief veterinary officer at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said in a statement: | Alick Simmons, deputy chief veterinary officer at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said in a statement: |
"It is welcome news for British farmers to have the choice to vaccinate their animals. | "It is welcome news for British farmers to have the choice to vaccinate their animals. |
"The vaccine will give extra assurance against this disease on top of the natural immunity we expect sheep and cattle to develop after initial exposure." | "The vaccine will give extra assurance against this disease on top of the natural immunity we expect sheep and cattle to develop after initial exposure." |
NFU livestock board chairman and sheep farmer, Charles Sercombe, lost 40% of his early lambing flock to the virus. | NFU livestock board chairman and sheep farmer, Charles Sercombe, lost 40% of his early lambing flock to the virus. |
He said the vaccine would give added reassurance to farmers who were concerned about losing lambs to the disease. | He said the vaccine would give added reassurance to farmers who were concerned about losing lambs to the disease. |
"Everybody in farming who wants to use it will welcome it as soon as possible," he told BBC News. | "Everybody in farming who wants to use it will welcome it as soon as possible," he told BBC News. |
"Some flocks need it in the next few weeks to fit in with their breeding programmes." | "Some flocks need it in the next few weeks to fit in with their breeding programmes." |
Reports from farmers suggest that at least 1,700 farms throughout the UK have now tested positive for the SBV virus. | Reports from farmers suggest that at least 1,700 farms throughout the UK have now tested positive for the SBV virus. |
UK farmers will be the first in the EU with access to the vaccine, according to Defra. | UK farmers will be the first in the EU with access to the vaccine, according to Defra. |
Phil Stocker, chief executive of the National Sheep Association, said farmers should speak to their vet about the timing of vaccination. | |
"The decision about whether to vaccinate or not will be down to each individual farmer, their business model, infection history, lambing pattern and location," he said. |
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