Schmallenberg Virus

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has confirmed it is considering an application by MSD for a vaccine against the Schmallenberg virus.  In an unusual step, but due to the considerable interest in the vaccine – ‘Bovilis SBV’ the VMD has released details on the progress of the application which was originally submitted in August 2012.  The VMD has said that ‘despite good progress’ it is still not possible at this stage to say when the vaccine will be authorised, although it will release timelines on the remaining stages.  Presence of the virus does not need to be notified and so the actual number of cases is impossible to know.  Latest figures from the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency show that by February 1,531 cases have been reported in England and Wales.  Virology experts from Nottingham University’s School of Veterinary Medicine and Science suggest that Schmallenberg losses on severely affected farms could be as high as 30%.