After the bluetongue disease has been diagnosed in sheep and cows in West Friesland for a number of weeks, alpacas in the region are also not safe from the non-contagious virus transmitted by the so-called midges. Two alpacas have now died from bluetongue on the farm of Bianca Vriend from Schellinkhout. “You are powerless when it happens.” We are always alert, but if it catches on you are too late,” says Bianca.
After Bianca announced last week that one of her alpacas had probably died of bluetongue, the test results of a blood test had yet to provide clarity. In the meantime, a second animal also died from the same symptoms. Last weekend it was officially confirmed that the animals died of bluetongue.
In addition, one of the more than 40 alpacas at the company in Schellinkhout suffered from a low temperature and drooping eyelids. Symptoms that may indicate bluetongue. This animal was immediately brought in by Bianca, where it was given extra food to strengthen and warm up. “Fortunately, he was back to his old self within a day,” she explains. “But it was quite exciting for a while.”
Tension and stress
According to Vriend, it is difficult or impossible for anyone who does not keep animals to imagine what it can do to someone. Bianca says that she has not been eating well for some time due to all the tension and stress. “I can barely keep my breakfast down,” she says. “A lot of people don’t understand it, but it really does something to you. It can’t be compared to anything. You see your whole soul and bliss slip through your fingers when you see such an animal get sick and you can’t do anything about it Everything will be taken away from you…”
At the company they are alert to symptoms in all animals. “If an alpaca coughs more than once, I almost have a heart attack. Recently I almost called the vet for a new case, but luckily that turned out not to be necessary,” says Bianca. “The alpacas have a longer neck than other animals, so they can cough more quickly. Although I am now constantly holding my breath, hoping that we will not have any new cases.”
Anti-inflammatories and other medications do not help alpacas if the animals already have symptoms and make a rattling sound when breathing. “If you are unlucky, you can’t even get the vet on time. Then the alpaca has already died, because it is suffocating on its own lung contents.”
Several cases of bluetongue in alpacas in the Netherlands
Following the article last week – in which it could not yet be confirmed that Bianca Vriend’s alpaca died of bluetongue – the Kitalpha Alpacas owner received several calls from others who keep the same animals. Bianca was told that at least four alpacas had died from bluetongue.
“There could be more, because people don’t always dare to say it,” Bianca continues. “The bluetongue disease is also starting to spread more and more in the region. More and more cows are also starting to show symptoms of the disease at our dairy farm.”
LTO Noord provides information about bluetongue
Bluetongue is a non-contagious viral disease transmitted by midges. This is a small species of mosquito, from 1 to 4 millimeters in size. Until last year, the Netherlands did not have to deal with the disease, says Trude Buysman of LTO North West Friesland. “We don’t know how the animal got here to the Netherlands,” she says.
“In West Friesland itself, the number of sick animals due to bluetongue is not too bad, but in other places in the country there are farms where half of the animals die,” she continues. “It is now spreading like wildfire. We are holding actions with the LTO to guide companies in preventing the disease and to see what we can do for the affected companies.”
Buysman ‘estimates’ that many animal keepers are affected by bluetongue. “They see their children lost, so to speak. It causes a lot of emotional damage for the farmers, who put their heart and soul into it. It can also play a factor on trade, but that is a matter for later. It is important that “We are investigating what measures can be taken against the midges to ensure that bluetongue does not affect even more animals.”