The 1977 outbreak of bluetongue in Cyprus

Polydorou, K.

doi:10.1007/bf02235349

Cited by 17 publications

(12 citation statements)

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“…For over a century, bluetongue has been considered as an exotic disease restricted in Africa, west Middle East and southern Mediterranean islands (Cyprus) (Gambles, 1949;Polydorou, 1978). In the early 1950s, Bluetongue Virus and competent vectors overcame their geographical limitations and affected, for the first time, susceptible hosts in North America and Europe.…”

Section: Timeline Of Bluetongue In Europementioning

confidence: 99%

Bluetongue Virus in wild ruminants in Europe: Concerns and facts, with a brief reference to bluetongue in cervids in Greece during the 2014 outbreak

Chatzopoulos

Valiakos

Γιαννακόπουλος

et al. 2015

Small Ruminant Research

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Section: Timeline Of Bluetongue In Europementioning

confidence: 99%

Bluetongue Virus in wild ruminants in Europe: Concerns and facts, with a brief reference to bluetongue in cervids in Greece during the 2014 outbreak

Chatzopoulos

Valiakos

Γιαννακόπουλος

et al. 2015

Small Ruminant Research

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“…About 1 5-2 % of all sheep in Cyprus were affected. Further details of the outbreaks in the south have been described by Polydorou (1978).…”

Section: History Of the Epidemicmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…At the end of August 1977, bluetongue disease of sheep due to type 4 broke out in Cyprus (Polydorou, 1978). The epidemic started simultaneously in the south-east of the island (in the Famagusta district) and on the north coast (in the Kyrenia district) and eventually involved sheep in most of the island apart from the Karpas peninsula.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Possible origin of the bluetongue epidemic in Cyprus, August 1977

Sellers

Gibbs

Herniman

et al. 1979

J. Hyg.

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Possible origins of an epidemic of bluetongue in Cyprus in August 1977 have been analysed. First outbreaks occurred simultaneously in the south-east of the Famagusta district and on the north coast of the Kyrenia district respectively. Although the epidemic was due to type 4, which had been responsible for the previous outbreak in 1969, no evidence of persistence of virus could be found. Imports of domestic animals in the past year were not implicated since the imported cattle were introduced only to the southern part and not to the northern part of the island. Easterly, north-easterly and northerly winds during the period 11–14 August could have brought infected midges at a height of 0.5–1.5 km from Syria and Turkey, and such a movement would fit well the dates of the first outbreaks (20–25 August). Temperatures at a height of 1.5 km were 20–25 °C and at 0.5 km 30–35 °C, and with wind speeds 10–20 km h−1 the distance from Turkey and Syria would have been covered in 5–20 h. It follows that, in addition to surface winds, winds at all levels warm enough for flight should be taken into account when the possibility of disease spread by windborne midges is being assessed.

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“…The bluetongue outbreak in Aydin Province persisted until December, when the disease disappeared, to reappear in 1978 and 1979 in sheep in this and other provinces of western Turkey (Anon, 1980;Yonguv et al 1982). Two months before the outbreak in 1977 a bluetongue epidemic due to type 4 had commenced in Cyprus (Polydorou, 1978;Sellers et al 1979).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Possible windborne spread to Western Turkey of bluetongue virus in 1977 and of Akabane virus in 1979

Sellers

Pedgley²

1985

J. Hyg.

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SUMMARYAn outbreak of bluetongue in sheep started in the Menderes valley, Aydin Province, Western Turkey, in October 1977. The severity of the disease indicated that it had not been there before but had been introduced into the area. Anatysis showed that, while it was possible for the virus to have been brought into the area by movement of infected animals, there was also a period of south-easterly winds which could have carried infected midges from Cyprus, where bluetongue was present. During the night of 14–15 October 1977, south-easterly winds could have brought midges infected with bluetongue virus for the 15 h flight at a height possibly of 500 m and at temperatures of about 20 °C. A depression moving north-eastwards accompanied by rain may have affected the landing of midges in the Menderes valley on the morning of 15 October.An outbreak of arthrogryposis–hydranencephaly in newly born calves occurred in March–May 1980, also in the Menderes valley, Aydin Province. The severity of the outbreak indicated that Akabane virus had not been in the area before but had been introduced in September–November the previous year. While infected animals could have brought the virus into the area, analysis based on the probable time of infection of pregnant dams showed that easterly winds at the end of September or beginning of October 1979 could have brought insects infected with Akabane virus into the Menderes valley from eastern Turkey or northern Syria.These analyses illustrate the use of meteorological data to backtrack to possible sources and to identify the time of infection.

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The 1977 outbreak of bluetongue in Cyprus

Cited by 17 publications

References 0 publications

Bluetongue Virus in wild ruminants in Europe: Concerns and facts, with a brief reference to bluetongue in cervids in Greece during the 2014 outbreak

Bluetongue Virus in wild ruminants in Europe: Concerns and facts, with a brief reference to bluetongue in cervids in Greece during the 2014 outbreak

Possible origin of the bluetongue epidemic in Cyprus, August 1977

Possible windborne spread to Western Turkey of bluetongue virus in 1977 and of Akabane virus in 1979

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