Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178580613021112 (15).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Cows graze in a field near the Green Bank Telescope, a 100-meter fully steerable radio telescope, is seen at the Green Bank Observatory in the US National Radio Quiet Zone May 20, 2024, in Green Bank, West Virginia. <em>Photo by Brendan Smialowski/AFP/File</em><br/></span></span></span></div><p>GENEVA, Switzerland — A virus spread by biting midges never before seen in Switzerland is thought to be responsible for a surge in sickness in Swiss dairy cows, authorities said Monday.</p><p>Several regions of the Alpine country have recorded a spike in illnesses since mid-July, with cows suffering from fever and diarrhoea and producing less milk, the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) said.</p><p>&quot;Investigations by the Institute of Virology and Immunology (IVI) have detected an orthobunyavirus of the Simbu group in several acutely ill animals -- a virus previously unknown in Switzerland,&quot; the FSVO said.</p><p>Genetic testing is under way to determine the exact orthobunyavirus and whether it is the cause of the observed illnesses, the office added.</p><p>Orthobunyaviruses of the Simbu group are primarily transmitted by biting midges, and no vaccines are currently available, the FSVO said.</p><p>The IVI said its preliminary findings align with evidence from France and Germany, &quot;where the suspicion that an orthobunyavirus is circulating... is also gaining traction&quot;.</p><p>The IVI said viruses in the Simbu serogroup are found primarily in Africa, Asia and Australia.</p><p>&quot;It is currently unclear whether there is a connection between the current heatwave and the reported cases of illness,&quot; it added.</p><p>&quot;However, high temperatures pose a significant stress, especially for high-yielding dairy cows, and can make them more susceptible to disease.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div><strong><br/></strong></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CWXocOqjdnY?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>A virus spread by biting midges never before seen in Switzerland is thought to be responsible for a surge in sickness in Swiss dairy cows, authorities said Monday.</p>

A virus spread by biting midges never before seen in Switzerland is thought to be responsible for a surge in sickness in Swiss dairy cows, authorities said Monday.

Swiss cows struck by mystery illness

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Swiss cows struck by mystery illness

Agence France-Presse

Published August 04, 2026 09:17 AM PHT

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Geneva

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Agence France-Presse

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