Bluetongue p. 80

Question 1

Bluetongue seasonally-free zone

Answer 1

• An epidemiological relevant geographical area of a Member State for which, for a part of the
year, surveillance demonstrates no evidence of bluetongue virus transmission or of adult
Culicoides likely to be competent bluetongue vector

Question 2

When the presence of bluetongue if officially confirmed, what are the measures

Answer 2

• The official veterinarian shall:
o Proceed with the slaughter deemed necessary to prevent extension of the epidemic; (stamp
out, but choose which ones, don’t kill all)
o Order the destruction, elimination, incineration or burial of the carcases of those animals;
• Extend the measures of official surveillance and movement restrictions to holdings located within a
radius of 20 kilometres (including the protection zone) around the infected holding or holdings;
• If necessary, implement vaccination programme or other, alternative measure; (Hu: vax in 20 km and
maybe even outside radius) – it’s voluntary (unlike AHS where it’s obligatory)
• Carry out an epidemiological survey.

Question 3

Official Measures in the protection zone for Bluetongue Disease (!!) (PQ)

Answer 3

• The identification of all holdings with animals inside the zone
• The implementation by the competent authority of an epidemio-surveillance programme
based on the monitoring of sentinel groups of bovine animals (or, in their absence, of other
species of ruminant) and vector populations;
• A ban on animals leaving the zone. However, exemptions from the exit ban may be decided on in
particular for animals situated in part of the zone where there is a proven absence of viral
circulation or of vectors.
• Vaccination of animals against bluetongue and their identification in the protection zone may be
decided.
• In the surveillance zone the measures for the protection zone apply. Any vaccination against
bluetongue is prohibited.
• All persons in the protection and surveillance zones shall be fully informed of the restrictions in
force and make any arrangements required for the proper implementation of the measures in
question

Question 4

Suspected presence of bluetongue

Answer 4

• The official veterinarian shall:
o Place the suspect holding or holdings under official surveillance; and shall
o Compile an inventory of the animals, indicating for each species the number of
animals already dead, infected or likely to be infected, and update this inventory to
take account of the animals which are born or die during the period in which the
disease is suspected; the data from this inventory must be produced on request and
may be checked during each visit;
o Compile an inventory of places likely to facilitate the survival of or to harbour the
vector and, in particular, of the sites conducive to its reproduction;
• Carry out an epidemiological survey;
• Make regular visits to the holding or holdings and, on each occasion, conduct a detailed clinical
examination or an autopsy of animals that are dead or suspected of infection and confirm the
disease, if necessary by means of laboratory tests;
• Ensure that
o Any movement of animals from or to the holding or holdings is prohibited;
o The animals are confined at times when the vectors are active, where he considers that
the means required for implementing this measures are available;
o The animals, the buildings used to house them and their surroundings (in particular
habitats in which the Culicoides populations thrive) are regularly treated with authorised
insecticides;
o The carcases of the dead animals at the holding are destroyed, eliminated, incinerated or
buried.
• The competent authority may place other holdings under official surveillance and movement
restrictions in the event that their location, geographical situation or contacts with the holding
where the disease is suspected provides grounds for suspecting the possibility of contamination.
• Specific provisions may be laid down for nature reserves in which animals live freely.