On April 22, a sheep farmer in Brakel was diagnosed with Q fever in the Netherlands for the first time since 2016. The infected farm is a dairy sheep farm with 83 adult animals and currently 45 lambs present. Furthermore, more than 450 cattle (dairy cattle and suckler cows) are present at the location of this company.
Minister Adema reports in a letter to Parliament that 35 young, unvaccinated ewes are present at the farm in question in Brakel. Of this group, 25 animals have lambed and it is most likely that this group contains the animals that excreted Q fever bacteria. The Q fever bacteria were in the milk samples.
Procedure
The animals that excrete Q fever bacteria are tracked down, killed and removed. A ban on transport to other companies applies to all other sheep. However, the animals may be sent to slaughter, provided that the transporter and slaughterhouse are informed of the contamination so that staff can take the necessary protective measures. Furthermore, there is a ban on visitors to the buildings and grounds where sheep are kept. The NVWA will also place a warning sign at the company to inform the public. Finally, the holder must take mandatory hygiene measures.
Public health
The result value suggests that it concerns only one or a few sheep. The RIVM therefore estimates the risk to public health in the area as low. Of the remaining ten unvaccinated animals, six are still (highly) pregnant. The keeper has indicated that he will send the sheep that have already lambed to slaughter within the next two months. The six pregnant sheep are euthanized. In addition, unvaccinated animals may have been transported to other (dairy) sheep farms. The older ewes present have all been vaccinated. The NVWA has started an investigation and enforcement process at this company. The keeper will be imposed an administrative fine if it appears that violations have been committed with regard to the (vaccination) obligations in the Animal Keepers Decree.
Bad case
If there are companies that do not comply with the Animal Keepers Decree, this is a bad thing, according to LTO in a response. ‘In the Netherlands we have a strict vaccination and monitoring policy for Q fever. Due to the efforts of the sectors, we have not had Q fever for years. LTO attaches great importance to this, in the context of public health and animal health,” says Saskia Duives, chairman of LTO Sheep Farming. ‘The majority of well-intentioned animal keepers and veterinarians also see this importance and are working hard to achieve this. We therefore distance ourselves from entrepreneurs who deliberately do not comply with the rules, and assume that the NVWA will take appropriate and enforcement action in such situations. Especially when it concerns a zoonosis.’
Tags: fever Netherlands Agraaf .nl
