Schmallenberg spread a warning to Europe, scientists say

The outbreak of a new livestock disease in western Europe last year, particularly harmful to offspring, could move further into areas surrounding the worst affected countries in the next cycle of new births, scientists say.

Schmallenberg virus - named after the German town where it was first detected in November - infected sheep and cows on at least 2,600 farms in eight EU countries last year, most likely between August and October.

Thought to have been spread for hundreds of miles across Europe by biting midges and warm late summer winds, the virus has since been confirmed in Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Italy, Spain and Britain.

It is particularly harmful to the offspring of animals infected during early pregnancy, resulting in stillbirths and malformations such as brain deformities, twisted spines and locked joints.

The impact on EU livestock production has been limited, and all the evidence so far shows that the virus poses no risk to humans. But scientists and officials say the rapid emergence and spread of Schmallenberg should be a cause for concern.

"It is certainly a warning for the whole world in the sense that, unfortunately, new threats may emerge," said Alberto Laddomada, a former virologist who heads the animal health unit at the European Commission.

What is Schmallenberg virus? Schmallenberg virus is a disease of farm animals that was first seen last year in northern Europe. It is named after the German town, about 80km east of Cologne, where it was identified.

Cases have been seen in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France and Italy as well as the UK. Incidence in Germany is so far about 10 times the UK level.

It was first identified in the UK in late January.

The virus appears to be a member of the Orthobunyavirus genus. These are known to cause other animal diseases - some serious, others not so.

Schmallenberg has so far been seen in sheep, cattle and goats, and is thought to be carried by midges.

Orthobunyaviruses easily swap genetic material with each other, and scientists suspect that the new strain arose recently through an interaction between existing viruses that might be harmless.

"This virus has spread very, very quickly in the European Union amongst an animal population of many millions. Considering the massive spread in a population that is fully susceptible, the virus itself has had a limited impact," he told Reuters.

PROBLEMS AT THE MARGINS

Scientists say Schmallenberg is similar to a better known virus called Akabane, which has caused deformities in newborn cattle and other ruminants in Asia and Australia since the mid-1970s.