Carinthia buys 24,000 vaccine boxes: protection against bluezungen disease!

Carinthia buys 24,000 vaccine boxes: protection against bluezungen disease!

Kärnten, Österreich - On March 27, 2025, it became known that the agricultural department of the State of Carinthia acquired 24,000 vaccine doses against the bluezungen disease. With an investment of 160,000 euros, the vaccine is to be made available to agricultural companies in order to protect the animal stocks in the region. The first case of blue -tongue disease, a severe viral disease, was registered in Carinthia in September 2024. Sheep, cattle, goats as well as wild animals and also lamas and alpacas are particularly affected.

This initiative is of particular importance, since vaccination should take place before the upcoming alpine pasture and pasture season. With the increasing temperatures in spring, the activity of mosquitoes that act as the carrier of the pathogen increases strongly. The risk of infection increases when the animals come to pasture, which can quickly endanger the entire herd.

The dangers of blue -tongue disease

The symptoms of the blue-tung disease are expressed in fever, nose and eye outflow as well as skin damage, while the tongue is bluishly colored. The effects on the animals are serious: the milk yield can drop strongly, the disease can lead to miscarriages or even death. Fortunately, the pathogen is fundamentally harmless to humans, which means that public health is not directly affected.

To protect the animals, the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) issued an urgent regulation. This allows the temporary use of vaccines against the Blue Tongue Virus of Serotype 3 (BTV-3). Dr. Ophelia Nick, Parliamentary State Secretary in the BMEL, emphasizes the urgency of vaccination. The vaccination is regarded in response to the expected season -related re -flames of the virus infections, which is associated with the increasing activity of the Gnitzen.

economic effects and preparation for the pasture season

In Germany, almost 16,000 cases of blue-tongue disease (BTV-3) are currently reported, including 921 in Bavaria. The economic consequential damage is already noticeable, with a decline in milk delivery and rising butter prices. According to Martina Bechter von Boehringer Ingelheim, the situation is worrying. The numbers from the Netherlands are particularly alarming, where sheep flocks are affected, which has led to over 50,000 dead sheep and about 2,000 dead cattle.

It is crucial for farmers to take action actively. However, the vaccines against BTV-3, which have been approved since February 20, 2025, will probably not be available in sufficient quantities in Germany. Therefore, the cattle, sheep and goat holder are responsible for vaccinating their animals before the start of the 2025 gnitzen season to prevent further outbursts and secure the animal stocks.

The authorities and veterinarians warn against relying on the winter months, since the virus can survive even at low temperatures. The goal must be to curb the virus reservoir even during the colder months to ensure a controlled process in the next pasture season.

These successful preparations are necessary to protect agriculture in the region and beyond the borders, and to protect both the health of the animals and the economic interests of farmers. The focus is now on the early implementation of the vaccination campaigns that are handled by the official veterinarians.

For further information on the measures against the blue-tongue disease see also dolomitenstadt , bmel and Wochenblatt .