Yet another nemesis of climate change, a deadly virus -that has already ravaged mainland Europe – has expanded further northwards killing 1.8 million animals since its first appearance in Europe in 1998.
It was in June this year, a sentinel animal on a holding in North Rhein-Westphalia was found to be infected with bluetongue virus serotype 8, revealing the worrisome fact that the virus strain — responsible for its last year’s outbreak in northern Europe — might have successfully over-wintered in the region!
Threatening the livestock industry in recent years, the epizootics of Bluetongue virus has killed approximately 179,000 sheep within just 4 months ! This clearly reveals the catastrophe that has already lashed Britain’s major new farmyard – trapping Britain in a real risk.
The warm weather in the country along with the easterly winds are creating the perfect and confirmed route for midges’ arrival and infecting the livestock. Unfortunately, the changing climate is leaving scientists unarmed against he deadly virus.
To add to this, the Bluetongue outbreaks have also decreased livestock trade threatening the region’s economy — now rather an even bigger threat to the livestock industry than the actual disease itself.
