A herd of 14 sheep and six cattle in Varde, Denmark, has been affected by the bluetongue virus, a serious disease for ruminants, as reported by the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (Fødevarestyrelsen) on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter). This comes just days after the first confirmed case in Denmark in 15 years. The herd is now under public surveillance to prevent further spread of the virus.

Bluetongue does not affect humans but can be fatal to cattle, sheep, goats, and deer. Symptoms include swelling in the head, mouth sores, lameness, abortions, and cyanosis (blue discoloration) of the tongue in sheep. According to the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, culling is often the only solution, as the disease is chronic and painful.

Mette Kirkeskov Sie, head of the unit at the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, emphasizes that livestock owners need to be vigilant for symptoms and contact a veterinarian if they suspect infection. The agency anticipates more outbreaks in the near future.

The disease primarily spreads through midges, small insects that bite the animals. Prevention measures include the use of insecticides; however, bluetongue can also be transmitted through semen and from cow to calf during pregnancy. No compensation is provided for losses due to disease outbreaks, which can lead to financial challenges for livestock owners.

Earlier this year, the Danish Veterinary Consortium (Dansk Veterinær Konsortium) warned about the risk of bluetongue as a variant impacted ruminants in several European countries. The implications of the recent outbreaks in Denmark include the loss of the country’s bluetongue-free status, affecting the export of live cattle, semen, and other products both within and outside the European Union.