0 a disease that affects some farm animals, especially sheep and cows, in which the mouth and tongue of the affected animals turns blue
Under current rules, vaccination is only allowed in areas that are subject to certain restrictions because of the presence of bluetongue disease.
The old directive on measures to combat bluetongue from 2000 needs to be improved and updated.
In addition, the current outbreak of bluetongue and consequent restrictions imposed on the movement and marketing of animals has created additional socio-economic difficulties.
Under the fifth and sixth framework programmes, two specific projects were devoted to the development of a safe, efficacious bluetongue virus vaccination strategy.
It can also be disastrous not to protect your animals from disease, especially one as damaging and virulent as bluetongue.
We must not lose sight of the fact that, although the bluetongue situation has improved greatly in recent years, the disease has not been eradicated.
It reassures farmers who are concerned by the deadly disease and the existing vaccination as the bluetongue season approaches with the warmer weather.
With a preventive vaccination campaign, for example, under current legislation, a restriction zone must be maintained, even if no incidence of bluetongue has been recorded.
