Nébih ordered national bluetongue tests, the results suggest caution

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In order to protect the Hungarian livestock and preserve our free status, Nébih ordered the inspection of the cattle transported to Hungary. Nébih – taking into account the longest incubation period of the disease – has prescribed the inspection of shipments of susceptible animals arriving in Hungary from July 2023. Of the almost 3,800 cattle that arrived with the affected 59 shipments, only about 1,150 animals were kept in Hungary at the time of the investigation, and the rest were so-called exported to third countries. With the involvement and cooperation of the county government offices, a total of almost 1,700 samples and laboratory tests were carried out, which also affected animals kept together with cattle from other Member States.

So far, a total of fifteen non-vaccinated animals of Dutch origin in five farms have been confirmed to have previously encountered the virus, become infected and transferred

Although these cattle do not pose a risk of infection, the results definitely show that prevention is key to maintaining Hungary’s freedom from bluetongue: protection against mosquitoes that play a role in the spread of the virus, as well as strict adherence to quarantine regulations.

Based on Nébih’s information, no cattle, sheep or goat shipments have arrived in Hungary from the Netherlands or infected areas of other member states since the restrictions were introduced

The activity period of midge mosquitoes, which transmit the infection, ended with the arrival of cold weather, but the agency draws the attention of farmers to take special care when purchasing animals from the affected countries, and to complete the prescribed treatments, tests, and quarantine in all cases.

Loss of bluetongue-free status may mean trade restrictions for susceptible ruminants.

Nébih