Epizootic haemorrhagic disease and EHDV

Subject: Epizootic haemorrhagic disease and EHDV

EHDV is an insect-borne RNA virus that infects wild and domestic animals, causing an epizootic haemorrhagic disease that has been called ‘cow Covid’. In recent years the virus has spread significantly (e.g. in Spain in 2022–2023, recent confirmed new outbreaks of diseased cows on farms in the north of the country). EHDV affects both domestic animals and wild forest animals. Unlike many diseases, EHD is not transmitted through mosquitoes, but through insects.

Although scientific data indicates that the disease is not transmitted directly from animal to animal and that humans cannot become infected through the bite of an insect or contact with an infected animal, the disease has been notifiable to the World Organisation for Animal Health since 2008.

1. Given that ruminant EHD is a viral pathology with significant consequences for the well-being of society and the economy, is the Commission planning to make appropriate recommendations for action in the event that the disease spreads more widely?

2. Does the Commission intend, via its executive agencies, to engage with Member States through the relevant veterinary expert forums to initiate a collective risk assessment in relation to EHD and EHDV?

3. Are there any plans to roll out an authorised EHD vaccine together with a framework for its recommended use?

Submitted: 11.10.2023

Answer given by Ms Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission (29 November 2023)

Epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus (EHD) is a listed disease in Regulation (EU) 2016/429 (1) on transmissible animal diseases (‘Animal Health Law’).

Specific rules for the prevention and control of EHD therefore apply. In line with Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882 (2), the EU rules are limited to surveillance within the Union and to prevent the disease from spreading on account of movements of animals between Member States and upon entry into the Union. No additional recommendations are planned at this stage.

The EHD situation is already being discussed at the relevant veterinary expert forums, most notably the Working Party on Animals and Veterinary Questions of the Council, at the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (3) of the Commission and in a dedicated working group with experts from Member States and the European Food Safety Authority.

Vaccines, if available, may be an important tool to help Member States to keep the disease under control. However, according to EU rules, there is no obligation for Member States to eradicate EHD.

The Commission therefore does not have any plans to roll out an authorised EHD vaccine together with a framework for its possible use.

Therefore, the EU’s role to roll out an authorised EHD vaccine is limited, and vaccination is better addressed at Member State level.

1 ∙ ⸱ https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32016R0429

2 ∙ ⸱ https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2018/1882/oj

3 ∙ ⸱ https://food.ec.europa.eu/horizontal-topics/committees/paff-committees_en