Schmallenberg virus was first officially characterised in November 2011 in Germany from samples collected in summer/autumn 2011 from diseased dairy cattle. It was also initially detected in dairy cows and in newborn lambs in the Netherlands where the presence of the virus was confirmed in December 2011. In February 2012, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, the United Kingdom and France have reported Schmallenberg virus outbreaks to the OIE as an emerging disease.
Following the emergence of Schmallenberg virus in Western Europe, the OIE convened a meeting of experts to review existing knowledge of the new virus and provide information to its Members and to stakeholders. Identified hosts so far are cattle, sheep, goats and bisons. Based on current available information, experts concluded that the risk for human health is negligible. The experts also determined that the viraemic period (the time during which the virus circulates in the bloodstream of an infected animal) of Schmallenberg virus is short and that virus transmission most likely occurs by vectors such as mosquitoes or biting midges, with apparent similarity to the transmission of the bluetongue virus.
Source: World Organisation for Animal Health, Paris
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