On 17 November, we were in Ciney for the AESA Meetings organised together with ARSIA Although deeply rooted in the Belgian field context, the event offered valuable insights that are relevant well beyond Belgium for all professionals working with ruminants.<\/p>\n
The programme included experience-sharing, epidemiological analyses and discussions on the management of BTV-3, BTV-8 and EHD\u2014three viruses for which vaccination was mandatory in Belgium in 2025.<\/p>\n
The presentations helped clarify the real impact of these diseases on sheep, goat and cattle farms, as well as their longer-term effects on reproduction and farm organisation. Dr H\u00e9l\u00e8ne G\u00e9rard (SPF) reviewed the implementation of the 2025 vaccination obligation and the challenges associated with it. On 17 November, we were in Ciney for the AESA Meetings organised together with ARSIA Although deeply rooted in the Belgian field context, the event offered valuable insights that are relevant well beyond Belgium for all professionals working with ruminants. The programme included experience-sharing, epidemiological analyses and discussions on the management of BTV-3, BTV-8 and EHD\u2014three viruses for which vaccination was mandatory in Belgium in 2025.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":11040,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[53],"tags":[2240,2241,2204,2196,2277,2289,2369],"class_list":["post-11045","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-bluetongue","tag-btv3-en","tag-cattle","tag-ehd","tag-epizootic-haemorrhagic-disease","tag-vaccination","tag-vector-borne-diseases"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\nThe contributions from Nicolas Marchal, Drs Laurent Delooz and Julien Evrard (whose work has been published in Viruses<\/em>), and the testimony of Dr Jean-Philippe Demonty highlighted the importance of early vaccination and close support for farmers. <\/p>\n
\nA highly participatory debate then allowed scientists, veterinarians, farmers and authorities to share their views and put forward concrete paths for improvement. As Prof. Claude Saegerman reminded us in his introduction, this collective approach is essential to move towards a more coherent and predictable management of vector-borne diseases.<\/p>\nWhat are the 10 key points to remember from these discussions with Belgian veterinarians?<\/h5>\n
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\nIt prevents reproductive losses, growth delays and drops in production that can affect the entire season.<\/li>\n
\nThe cost of an outbreak always exceeds the cost of preventive vaccination.<\/li>\n
\nBTV-3, BTV-8 and EHD can circulate silently for months.<\/li>\n
\nVaccinating before the Culicoides activity period is crucial to preventing infection.<\/li>\n
\nStopping vaccination too early increases the risk of a resurgence in 2027.<\/li>\n
\nThey know the field, the risk periods and the specific needs of each farm.<\/li>\n
\nPreventing disease avoids weeks of uncertainty and emotional pressure on farms and veterinary teams.<\/li>\n
\nTrusting veterinarians and official authorities reduces confusion created by rumours and social media.<\/li>\n
\nReproductive delays, temporary milk losses and disruptions in farm planning can all affect annual profitability.<\/li>\n
\nThe higher the regional vaccination coverage, the lower the viral circulation and the better the protection across the production chain.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\ud83d\udccc Three key messages<\/strong><\/h5>\n
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