Serological ELISA for SBV currently being evaluated.

Recent developments in the disease situation surrounding Schmallenberg virus (SBV) in northern Europe are discussed in the latest outbreak assessment from the International Disease Monitoring (IDM) team at Defra. In the assessment, which was published on 23 Apr 2012, the IDM team says that AHVLA laboratories are currently validating a serological ELISA that has become commercially available in Europe. Defra is considering how the test could be used for surveillance and whether there is a potential cost-benefit to such use. The team adds that the geographical distribution of the disease is still restricted to north-west Europe, but that this could still change as more cattle that were infected last year continue to give birth, or as serological surveillance gives a clearer picture of past exposure.