Schmallenburg virus was late last month confirmed on four UK sheep farms and the British Veterinary Association is urging "heightened vigilance."
The disease causes congenital deformities and nervous defects in lambs, goat kids and calves. Clinical signs in affected cattle include fever, milk drop and diarrhoea.
Veronica Herrera, MAF director response, told Rural News, that while MAF doesn't test for Schmallenburg itself, it does test for similar viruses which show they are not present here, and consequently Schmallenburg isn't thought to be present in New Zealand.
Even if it were inadvertently imported in embryos or semen, it's likely what's thought to be insect transmission from animal to animal wouldn't occur here.
"MAF has assessed the risk associated with semen and embryo imports and found the risks associated with semen are negligible and the risks associated with embryos are very low.
Animal product imports are also considered to be negligible risk."
As it is, there have been no imports of sheep or goat embryos in recent years and MAF has contacted those who have imported bovine embryos in the past two years "to share information and ensure heightened vigilance."
"Importers have advised MAF that they have not observed suspect disease in recipient cows or resulting progeny."
There have been no imports from Europe of live animals of susceptible species in recent years.
BVA president Carl Padgett says confirmation of Schmallenberg virus in sheep flocks in England is a reminder to vets and farmers across the UK to step up vigilance.
"We understand that in confirmed cases clinical signs occur in clusters and vets should ensure they know what to look for in both adult and perinatal ruminants.
"While the cases in the south east of England suggest the virus is vector-borne, other potential routes of transmission are still being considered."
Meteorological modelling suggests that infection on the four farms occurred during summer/autumn 2011, with congenital defects now becoming visible at lambing time.
The risk of transmission to humans is believed to be very low but it has not been ruled out.
