Schmallenberg virus
Current Information on Schmallenberg virus
last updated May 21, 2012
In Germany animals from 1539 holdings have been tested positiv for Schmallenberg virus so far. The cases occurred in 639 cattle holdings, 853 sheep holdings and 47 goat holdings. Affected federal states are North Rhine-Westphalia (223 cattle, 270 sheep, 13 goat holdings), Lower Saxony (187 cattle, 144 sheep, 6 goat holdings), Hesse (56 cattle, 129 sheep holdings, 9 goat holdings), Schleswig-Holstein (75 cattle, 101 sheep holdings, 1 goat holding), Rhineland-Palatinate (1 Bison holding, 35 cattle, 41 sheep, 5 goat holdings), Baden-Wuerttemberg (6 cattle, 22 sheep, 5 goat holdings), Brandenburg (14 cattle, 21 sheep holdings), Thuringia (17 cattle, 30 sheep, 2 goat holdings), Saxony-Anhalt (9 cattle, 23 sheep, 2 goat holdings), Hamburg (2 cattle, 6 sheep holdings), Bavaria (8 cattle, 17 sheep holdings, 1 goat holding), Saxony (4 cattle holding, 35 sheep holdings), Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (2 cattle, 9 sheep holdings, 1 goat holding), Saarland (4 sheep, 2 goat holdings) and Berlin (1 sheep holding).
The Netherlands, Belgium, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Luxembourg and Spain have also reported cases of ‛Schmallenberg virus’, mostly in sheep.
Table: Confirmed case numbers on the stocks concerned, May 21, 2012, 15.52 h; source: TSN
| Federal state |
Cattle |
Sheep |
Goat |
Total |
| Schleswig-Holstein |
75 |
101 |
1 |
177 |
| Hamburg |
2 |
6 |
|
8 |
| Lower Saxony |
187 |
144 |
6 |
337 |
| North Rhine-Westphalia |
223 |
270 |
13 |
506 |
| Hesse |
56 |
129 |
9 |
194 |
| Rhineland-Palatinate |
36 (1 Bison) |
41 |
5 |
82 |
| Baden-Wuerttemberg |
6 |
22 |
5 |
33 |
| Bavaria |
8 |
17 |
1 |
26 |
| Saarland |
|
4 |
2 |
6 |
| Berlin |
|
1 |
|
1 |
| Brandenburg |
14 |
21 |
|
35 |
| Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania |
2 |
9 |
1 |
12 |
| Saxony |
4 |
35 |
|
39 |
| Saxony Anhalt |
9 |
23 |
2 |
34 |
| Thuringia |
17 |
30 |
2 |
49 |
| Total |
639 |
853 |
47 |
1539 |
In November 2011, the FLI has first detected a virus of the genus Orthobunyavirus in cattle in Germany. Comparative analyses of the genetic material lead to the assumption that the virus belongs to the Simbu serogroup (Shamonda, Aina, Akabane viruses). The virus could be isolated, cultivated and replicated. Based on the geographic origin of the sample, the virus was provisionally named ‛Schmallenberg virus’.
FLI developed a detection method that has been made available to institutions in Belgium, France, England, the Netherlands, Italy and in Switzerland.
It is still unclear whether this exotic virus has been newly introduced or whether orthobunyaviruses already have been present in ruminants in Europe for some time. Therefore, further investigations are necessary to assess this virus detection.
Orthobunyaviruses of cattle are widely distributed in Oceania, Australia and Africa and, as a rule, initially cause very mild clinical symptoms. If pregnant animals are infected, however, temporarily delayed, sometimes considerable congenital damages, premature births and reproductive disorders may occur. Akabane-like viruses are mainly transmitted by biting midges.
These viruses which are relevant in cattle do not represent a risk for humans. They are no zoonotic agents. Due to the relationship of ‛Schmallenberg virus’ with Shamonda, Aino, and Akabane virus, a risk for humans is not to be expected (also see risk assessment of the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control). A study of the Robert Koch-Institute showed no evidence for infections of people with close contact to infected animals, especially sheep.
