Fatal Tropical Livestock Disease Outbreak In Holland - Live Exports Halted

[hatrack]

EXPORTS of live sheep, cows and goats from Holland have been halted following the first outbreak of bluetongue in northern Europe. Climate change has brought the viral disease, which is spread by midges and is said to be potentially as devastating as foot-and-mouth, closer than ever to Britain.

It was diagnosed on one farm in the southern city of Kerkrade, near the German and Belgian borders, and is suspected at up to a dozen others nearby. Unknown in Europe before 1980, it has hit the Mediterranean area in the past five years and wiped out 500,000 sheep. UK chief veterinary officer Debbie Reynolds acknowledged an "increased likelihood" of bluetongue reaching the UK.

EDIT

She said, "This is much further north than ever before and there is an increased likelihood of the sheep disease being introduced by midges. But we think the risk is low overall."


The Farmers' Union of Wales is urging all farmers to keep a close eye on their sheep to ensure that the disease has not reached Britain. FUW President Gareth Vaughan said it was a worrying development. "Bluetongue has traditionally only been a problem in the tropics and sub-tropics, but climate change means that the disease is now travelling much further north than ever before," he said. "It may only be a matter of time before the first case is detected in the UK.

EDIT

http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/farming/farming/tm_objectid=17600581&method=full&siteid=50082&headline=killer-bluetongue---disease-closes---in-as-world-warms---name_page.html

[nam78_two]

1. k&r/nt

[phantom power]

2. I already hate this century.

[yellerpup]

3. Kick for the planet. eom

:kick: :kick:

[populistdriven]

4. photos

http://www.stackyard.com/news/2006/08/sheep/07_defra_bluetongue.html



http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/5263456.stm

sheep are the most susceptible, with up to 70% of an infected flock dying from the virus.