New Orthobunyavirus Found in Cattle in France, Switzerland, Germany
Researchers have identified a new orthobunyavirus affecting cattle in France, Switzerland and southern Germany. The virus, transmitted by small biting midges, has caused fever, diarrhoea and a temporary drop in milk production that lasts a few days. Cases were confirmed in the French departments of Doubs, Savoie, Haute‑Savoie and Ain, as well as in neighbouring regions of Switzerland and Germany.
Jean‑Luc Guérin, a professor at the École nationale vétérinaire de Toulouse and researcher at INRAE, says the virus is not transmissible to humans and poses no significant public‑health risk. It is genetically related to the Schmallenberg virus that caused abortions and fetal malformations in European cattle from 2011, but current infections appear less severe and are expected to resolve quickly without lasting impact on dairy herds.
Entities: France · Germany · Jean‑Luc Guérin · cattle · orthobunyavirus
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The virus is not transmissible to humans. (All three articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The infection leads to a temporary drop in milk production lasting a few days. (All three articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The virus was detected in the French departments of Doubs, Savoie, Haute‑Savoie and Ain. (All three articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] A new orthobunyavirus was identified in cattle in France, Switzerland and Germany. (All three articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The virus is genetically close to the Schmallenberg virus that affected Western Europe from 2011. (All three articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Researchers say there is no significant public‑health risk from the virus. (All three articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The virus is transmitted by small biting insects (midges). (All three articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The virus causes fever and diarrhoea in affected cattle. (All three articles)