The causative agent, a virus of the genus Orbivirus, is transmitted through the bite of mosquitoes (biting insects).
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Animal disease does not spread further north. The end of the epidemic of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) in Paris and throughout France remains uncertain. According to the latest data from the Paris Department of Agriculture, as of March 7, 4,002 livestock farms were affected across the country, compared to 3,708 farms officially on January 3. However, the spread of the disease is noticeably slowing down. As in January, at the moment the disease was detected in 20 departments.
The northernmost exclusion zones continue to cover Brittany, so EHD has not penetrated further north into Belgium and Germany in the past three months. However, the epicenter of the epidemic remains in the departments of Pyrénées-Atlantiques and Hautes-Pyrénées, which border Spain. The first cases of EHD in France were reported there in September 2023.
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease EHD
This viral disease of ruminants is clinically indistinguishable from bluetongue. It is also transmitted by mosquitoes (biting insects). The disease is not dangerous for humans.
Typical symptoms of the disease are sudden high fever, lethargy and reluctance to eat. Bloody diarrhea may occur. In white-tailed deer, the disease is usually fatal (up to 90 percent). Basically the same animal species are at risk as for bluetongue.
Cattle are the most affected livestock, with clinical symptoms indistinguishable from those of bluetongue. The disease can cause significant production loss, especially on dairy farms. Sheep and goats can also be infected, but rarely show noticeable symptoms.
What to do?
Protect ungulates from mosquitoes as much as possible. Vaccines against the disease are not approved in Switzerland. Epizootic hemorrhagic disease EHD is an animal disease that should be monitored and therefore reported. Cases of outbreaks and suspicious signs must be reported to the cantonal veterinarian.
The current international situation.
-> Radar Bulletin February 2024
Additional information.
-> Technical information on EHD epizootic hemorrhagic disease
All information mentioned comes from the Federal Office of Food Safety and Veterinary Affairs (BLV).