New vaccine for farm animals to help fight rise of deadly virus

A NEW vaccine will be made available to farmers this summer in order to tackle the deadly Schmallenberg Virus.

British farmers will be the first in the EU with access to the vaccine which will help protect sheep and cattle against birth defects.

Schmallenberg first reared its head in the UK at the start of last year, having previously only been found on farms in northern Europe.

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Since then there have been more than 1,700 reported cases and while most have been confined to the south of the country, there have been some in Yorkshire.

Today the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has issued the veterinary pharmaceutical company MSD Animal Health a licence to provide the new ‘Bovilis SBV’ vaccine.

Pete Borriello, VMD chief executive, said: “This is the culmination of intensive activity on the part of MSD Animal Health and the VMD to make a safe and effective vaccine available to tackle Schmallenberg.

“Without in any way compromising the scientific rigour of our assessment process, we accelerated our assessment so that a vaccine will be available this summer.

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“This means it will be possible to vaccinate sheep and cattle before most of them become pregnant. This is important as it is during pregnancy when exposure to the virus can cause damage to the foetus.”

Defra’s Deputy Chief Veterinary Office Alick Simmons said: “It is welcome news for British farmers to have the choice to vaccinate their animals. The vaccine will give extra assurance against this disease on top of the natural immunity we expect sheep and cattle to develop after initial exposure.”

Schmallenberg is spread by biting insects and is associated with milk drop, fever and diarrhoea as well as late abortion or birth defects.

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