A computer-generated image which depicts the outer surface of the bluetongue virus Photo: Institute of Animal Health

Farmers in France have started vaccinating their stock against serotype 8 of the bluetongue (BTV) virus that swept across much of Northern Europe last year. Other countries are set to follow as supplies of vaccine reach the market.

Yes, give me a free trial in print and online in PDF and online Name: Surname: Job Title: Company: Address: City: Country: Post/Zip Code: Tel: Email:     Privacy Policy

Merial Animal Health delivered the first 200,000 doses of a 30 million dose French Government BTV8 vaccine order to vets in France last week. The order was split between Merial and Intervet. Intervet already has a 22.5 million dose order from the UK, where the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) granted a licence for its Bovilis BTV8 vaccine last week, enabling vaccination to start there. The UK national authority DEFRA has already issued guidelines as to how its vaccination program will work. Fort Dodge Animal Health is supplying the Belgian, Spanish, Swiss and German governments with a BTV8 product, and is also awaiting VMD clearance in the UK.

Germany's tender is for 21m doses, and The Netherlands is also understood to be tendering for supplies of the vaccine.

› Not a subscriber? Subscribe
› Sign up for free trial
› Blog: Down on the Pharm

• UK bluetongue moves south west
• Bluetongue spreads in Europe
• Bluetongue virus might survive the winter within foetuses