Bluetongue Virus Approaches: Researchers calculate that UK cattle and sheep are at risk

摘要

Research just published in the Royal Society's journal Interface predicts that if midges carrying blue-tongue virus (BTV) were to arrive in the UK, then it would be likely to spread amongst ruminants such as cattle and sheep. This prediction is all the more apposite given the reports recently of fresh cases of bluetongue near the coast of Belgium, in France and Germany and just as we go to press, Luxembourg. "This means that all four countries that had the disease last summer have reported active cases this summer," says Dave Cavanagh.