Pastors of the Serra da Estrela region are concerned about increasing cases of Blue Language disease. Despite vaccination, many animals continue to get sick.
Although 70% of the animals recorded in the Serra da Estrela region are already vaccinated against Blue Language disease, the number of animals infected has increased in recent months.
“In addition to vaccination, it is extremely important to disintegrate to prevent the vector from going to bite animals and continuing to convey the disease. The impact beyond miscarriages, we have the loss of milk production, the death of animals and has a very strong impact on the local economy,” warns veterinarian Miguel Miranda.
There are herds that have not yet registered any case, so the recommendations are maintained because “if there is such a disease goes downhill, this is a huge damage,” says Pastor António Morais.
To aggravate this whole scenario, there is now a new variant of the disease with several cases registered, especially in Alentejo.
“We are afraid that it reaches our region next spring. (…) It is a new variant, which requires a new vaccine, a new vaccination logistics and, of course, with associated costs for producers,” anticipates veterinarian Miguel Miranda.
The waiting is now a response from the Ministry of Agriculture to directly support the producers of the region.
Blue tongue disease
According to the Blue Language disease or catarral ovine fever is “a viral, non -contagious, not transmissible disease to humans”.
Usually, the disease is “transmitted by insects of the genus, which are the biological vectors.”
