As the cycle of bluetongue transmission involves a ''Culicoides'' vector, elements of disease control can be targetted at controlling midges. This can involve the use of insecticides on ''Culicoides'' breeding grounds to reduce midge numbers, and insect repellants on livestock to limit feeding on potential BTV hosts. Animals can also be housed indoors at dawn and dusk, when midges are most active. So far, little evidence has supported the value of these control measures, and the practicalities of implementing these strategies may preclude them from widespread use. | As the cycle of bluetongue transmission involves a ''Culicoides'' vector, elements of disease control can be targetted at controlling midges. This can involve the use of insecticides on ''Culicoides'' breeding grounds to reduce midge numbers, and insect repellants on livestock to limit feeding on potential BTV hosts. Animals can also be housed indoors at dawn and dusk, when midges are most active. So far, little evidence has supported the value of these control measures, and the practicalities of implementing these strategies may preclude them from widespread use. |