African virus to heap more misery on British farmers
By SAM GREENHILL
Last updated at 22:18 12 August 2007
Farmers hoping the foot and mouth outbreak has been contained face a new threat from a virus that could kill millions of sheep.
Bluetongue has ravaged mainland Europe and could reach the UK any day.
Infected animals' tongues turn blue with asphyxiation as the disease swells their necks.
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Bluetongue is spread by midges, meaning it could literally arrive from the Continent on the next gust of wind.
Although it originated in Africa, the increasingly warm climate has attracted insects bearing the disease to northern Europe, where it has wrought havoc on sheep in Belgium, France, Germany and Holland.
Britain's 34million-strong sheep population has no natural immunity to bluetongue, so its arrival could see animals succumbing in even greater numbers than elsewhere.
Scientists say it is a matter of when, not if, the disease crosses the English Channel - by midges being swept along on easterly winds.
Experts at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) are receiving daily briefings from the Met Office.
When it reaches Britain, restriction zones around infected farms will need to be 15 times larger than the 10km ones for foot and mouth, because bluetongue's spread is insect-borne rather than being passed directly from animal to animal.
Great swathes of the countryside will need to be sealed off.
Nick Blayney, president of the British Veterinary Association, said: "Bluetongue is right on the edge of the Channel now and it would seem to be a practical consequence of global warming.
"It is a question of when, rather than if.
"The virus multiplies and damages organs, causing internal bleeding and ultimately death.
"In the early stages it could be confused with foot and mouth, because of the similarity of symptoms.
"Swelling of the head of neck, ulceration of the mouth, nose and eyes, and lameness are all signs of the disease."
According to Government projections, bluetongue - which is harmless to humans -could affect 19million sheep and nine million cattle.
Cows and goats tend to act as carriers rather than die from the disease, of which there is no cure and no vaccine.
The National Farmers' Union has warned of 'significant' loss of livelihood at infected farms and, unlike foot and mouth, it could take two years for Britain to be declared 'bluetongue free' and see any export bans lifted.
Professor Peter Mertens, head of arbovirus research at the Government's Institute for Animal Health in Pirbright, Surrey, said: "We have all the elements for an outbreak.
"It's a serious worry.
"All it needs is the match to light the fire.
"The risk has never been higher than it is right now. The real horror story is if we get bluetongue and foot and mouth at the same time."
Prime Minister Gordon Brown was today(MON) expected to receive the official report into how foot and mouth struck in Surrey earlier this month.
Hopes are high that the outbreak is now under control, although Chief Veterinary Officer Debby Reynolds has urged 'relentless vigilance' among livestock owners.
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