The current rules on vaccination against blue tongue in sheep in EU: some considerations
2011
Russo, M., University of Messina, (Italy) | Quartarone, V., University of Messina, (Italy). Faculty of Veterinary Medicine | Cuteri, V., University of Camerino, (Italy). School of Medical Veterinary Sciences | Cubeddu, G.M., University of Sassari, (Italy). Faculty of Veterinary Medicine | Lai, M.G., University of Sassari, (Italy). Faculty of Veterinary Medicine | Fiore, F., University of Sassari, (Italy). Faculty of Veterinary Medicine | Passantino, A., University of Messina, (Italy). Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Bluetongue (BT) is a non contagious vector-borne viral disease, which affects sheep and other domestic and wild ruminants, caused by an Orbivirus, whose vector is a small blood-feeding midges of the genus Culicoides. BT can cause spectacular disease outbreaks. It is a notifiable disease of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), and it is of serious socio-economic concern and of major importance in the international trade of animals and animal products (Dungu et al., 2004). Vaccination against BT is an important tool for the control of BTV infection and is also used to permit safe trade in live ruminants based on EU legislation and in accordance with OIE standards. In the opinion of the Authors, the revision of the legislation is necessary to reflect the technological progress in the field of vaccine development. The current obstacles for preventive vaccination outside areas subjected to animal movement restrictions are not necessary when modern safe inactivated vaccines are used. The proposed revision could be facilitate decision making on BT control strategies on the basis of the specific situation within the MSs without unnecessary intervention by the Union. In conclusion, the introduction of abovementioned rules on vaccination is in line with the Animal Health Strategy (2007-2013) Prevention is better than cure, as is moves towards a more flexible approach to vaccination, as well as improving current measures to control major animal diseases.
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