title: Spread and impact of the Schmallenberg virus epidemic in France in 2012-2013.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Schmallenberg virus (SBV) emerged in Europe in 2011 and caused a widespread epidemic in ruminants.In France, SBV emergence was monitored through a national multi-stakeholder surveillance and investigation system. Based on the monitoring data collected from January 2012 to August 2013, we describe the spread of SBV in France during two seasons of dissemination (vector seasons 2011 and 2012) and we provide a large-scale assessment of the impact of this new disease in ruminants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SBV impact in infected herds was primarily due to the birth of stillborns or deformed foetuses and neonates. Congenital SBV morbidity level was on average moderate, although higher in sheep than in other ruminant species. On average, 8% of lambs, 3% of calves and 2% of kids born in SBV-infected herds showed typical congenital SBV deformities. In addition, in infected herds, farmers reported retrospectively a lower prolificacy during the vector season, suggesting a potential impact of acute SBV infection during mating and early stages of gestation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Due to the lack of available control and prevention measures, SBV spread quickly in the naive ruminant population. France continues to monitor for SBV, and updated information is made available online on a regular basis [http://www.plateforme-esa.fr/]. Outbreaks of congenital SBV are expected to occur sporadically from now on, but further epidemics may also occur if immunity at population level declines.
authors.affiliation: Epidemiological Surveillance Unit, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), Maisons-Alfort, France. morgane.dominguez@anses.fr.
authors.forename: Morgane
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dominguez
authors.forename: Kristel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gache
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Touratier
authors.forename: Jean-Baptiste
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Perrin
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fediaevsky
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Collin
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bréard
authors.forename: Corinne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sailleau
authors.forename: Cyril
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Viarouge
authors.forename: Gina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zanella
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zientara
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hendrikx
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Calavas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002044:Bunyaviridae Infections / Q000151:congenital / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000151:congenital / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D058872:Epidemics / Q000662:veterinary*; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000151:congenital / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D006041:Goats; D016851:Orthobunyavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012621:Seasons; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000151:congenital / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D013997:Time Factors