Another deadly disease of farm animals may be on the way: Bluetongue

Deadlier than foot and mouth: Outbreak of bluetongue imminent - Independent on Sunday

Extract:

"Ulcers start appearing around the mouth, nose and eyes. Then the neck starts to swell, followed by the head. There is lameness. The virus multiplies and soon the beast starts bleeding internally. Breathing becomes more difficult. Death is close.

But this is not foot and mouth. Indeed, there will be few farmers breathing a sigh of relief this weekend as it appears that threat has, for the moment, abated. For they know something potentially as damaging is a mere gust of wind away. Bluetongue is heading this way.

Bluetongue has rampaged north across the Continent, killing 1.8 million animals in less than a decade. This time it is sheep that are the main victims, with the most virulent strains of the virus wiping out up to 70 per cent of infected flocks in two weeks. There is no cure and no vaccine.

For farming communities reeling from BSE and foot and mouth it is the latest nightmare – and thanks to climate change it appears unstoppable.

While it originated in Africa, bluetongue has found its way across the straits of Gibraltar and up to the fields of Holland, Belgium, France and Germany. The reason it has moved so quickly is its carrier: the humble midge.

Yet a variety of the midge has wrought havoc on sheep populations throughout Europe, and experts now say it is unlikely that Britain's 34 million sheep will remain unscathed for much longer.

They expect that following higher temperatures and recent floods it may merely be weeks before the sight of dying animals, with their tongues tinged blue as a result of asphyxiation, greets beleaguered British farmers."