BLUETONGUE CONTROL STRATEGY, INCLUDING RECOURSE TO VACCINE – A CRITICAL REVIEW –

Summary: The bluetongue epidemic that has prevailed in Europe since 2000 is the first example of continental spread of the bluetongue virus (BTV) in large naive populations of susceptible animals. Based on the results of intensive surveillance and research in countries of the southern Mediterranean that have been affected by the infection, a new strategy for prevention and control of the disease was developed to limit direct losses and to reduce the consequences due to movement restrictions. The basic innovations that were introduced were the use of mass vaccination of all domestic ruminant species to limit the spread of BTV and the use of intensive active surveillance to limit, as far as possible, the zone where movement restrictions must be applied. The novel strategy that was adopted dramatically reduced the number of clinical outbreaks and ensured safer animal trade. In 2006, a BTV-8 epidemic occurred in north-western Europe. During the first BTV-8 epidemic in 2006, affected countries adopted a ‘wait and see’ approach. No vaccination was implemented until 2008 and, in many instances, the movement of animals was authorised within restricted areas, thereby facilitating the spread of infection. Derogations to the ban on animal movements similar to those applied in southern Europe were applied in northern Europe, although the conditions that made such derogations applicable in th