MANAGEMENT, CONTROL AND REGULATIONS

Movement of domestic ruminants and their germ plasms from infected to free zones should be restricted. Following an outbreak of BT in domestic animals or wildlife in a zone that has previously been free, attempts should be made to limit further transmission of the virus and to achieve eradication as quickly as possible.

LEGISLATION

The way in which the above measures are applied, the tests to be used and the other responsibilities of the national veterinary authorities are described by the OIE⁽³⁴’³⁵). EU legislation is in line with the OIE and sets out procedures for BT control within the Union(³⁶). The World Trade Organization⁽³⁷⁾, under the mandate of its Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement, safeguards harmoniza­tion, equivalence and transparency of trade by publishing health standards for animals and animal products.

PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN

No public health concerns have been identified.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPLICATIONS

FOR ANIMAL HEALTH

BT is rightly considered one of the most feared ruminant diseases. During the current BTV incursions into Europe, well over 1.5 million sheep have died from the direct effects of the virus, and indirect costs in terms of sheep/ cattle morbidity, reduced productivity, loss in trade and vaccination will be many times the direct figure.

For wild ruminant species, the financial and health costs of BTV are likely to be less significant. High levels of mortality and morbidity in small numbers of captive wild ruminant species from South America, Asia and Europe have been reported. It is not known what would happen should populations of such species be involved in an epi­zootic, but it is conceivable that BTV could pose a threat to some BT-susceptible wildlife species that are rare or have a restricted distribution.