Sardinian sheep farmers are facing a devastating outbreak of the bluetongue virus, which is spreading rapidly due to the effects of climate change. The virus, transmitted by biting midges, is causing high mortality rates in sheep herds and crippling the island’s vital dairy and cheese production. This article explores the challenges faced by these farmers and the urgent need for more proactive measures to control the disease and mitigate the impacts of a warming climate. Bluetongue virus and climate change are the focal points.
The Devastating Toll of Bluetongue on Sardinia’s Sheep Flocks
Bluetongue sweeps Sardinian flocks into crisisThe island´s flock owners are in deep trouble. The region, which hosts around half of Italy’s sheep population and is integral to the production of renowned Italian Pecorino cheeses, has seen more than 20,000 sheep dying this year only.
The virus produces a variety of painful symptoms in infected sheep, from swelling in the head region, and high fevers to mouth ulcers and difficulties swallowing and breathing, as well as discoloration of the lips and tongue. In pregnant ewes it can cause them to abort or give birth to deformed young and even in those that survive their fleece is usually lost. The ill animals cannot deliver dead fetuses and many suffocate or drown within their slobber.
Climate Change Fueling the Spread and Intensity of Bluetongue Outbreaks
Bluetongue in Sardinia: climate change not epidemicsEnclo Hotel Saraceno, qb Villacobrabo didi Picamanến Quan Unoะ.. via UW)Experts say changes have caused the bluetongue picture of Italy to change rapidlyា Credit: Author providedThereSarde are more frequent and severe […] Biting midges, which carry BTV, and the disease itself are expected to expand their distribution northward in response to climate change, given that both types thrive under warmer temperatures and changing precipitation patterns.
The temperature has traditionally only made the bluetongue virus peak in Sardinia in around Au, gust but over the y, ears researchers have found its infection up to November. The Food and Agriculture Organization informs that climatic conditions play an important role in midge populations, their bit, ings the viruses and virulence incubation period r. This role in climate change positively results in more large-scale outbreaks.
Challenges in Controlling the Bluetongue Outbreak and Protecting Sardinia’s Sheep Farm
Rising to meet the bluetongue outbreak is a challenge for many Sardinian sheep farmers, but they have no choice if they want to preserve their livelihoods. Vaccines are available, but they typically experience distribution delays. This year, vaccines were only accessible in mid-June; by then, the virus had distributed widely.
But things are further complicated by the unwillingness of some farmers to employ the vaccines and those that do often only partially vaccinate their herds resulting in inadequate herd immunity. Furthermore, not all of the vaccines are effective against every variant, and new strains of the virus for which there is no vaccine yet continue to emerge. The hardest hit were breeders like Michela Dessì who own tens of thousands of chickens.
In addition to other steps like disinfecting the sites and offering midge repellents, public health departments must focus more on such essential measures, but often ignore them. Simple: not with prices that farmers say are insufficient for the current market rate of 150 euros per sheep killed by bluetongue, according to regional farming lobby Coldiretti.
