Trade implications of bluetongue in Africa

Bluetongue virus is endemic in most parts of Africa and control measures are influenced by a number of factors including climatic conditions, susceptibility of animals, presence of reservoir hosts, occurrence of Culicoides and the serotype incriminated in a particular locality. To export animals and animal products from endemically infected countries is a major challenge, as all these factors have to be taken into consideration. Attempts aimed at control or eradication of such a disease must therefore consider these factors very carefully.