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No, it's not the disease which has afflicted Gordon Brown, but a disease which afflicts cattle and, particularly, sheep.
It is carried by a midge. Until recently, it was restricted to the continent of Africa. However, with global warming, the vector (carrier) is now able to survive in more northern latitudes and the disease is endemic in Netherlands, Germany and Belgium.
The disease has now been detected on a rare breeds farm near Ipswich. It can only be a matter of time before it spreads across southern Britain. Since a vaccine is more than a year away, we must pray for a hard winter this year or brace ourselves for the sight of sheep dying on our hillsides.
- Frank Little
2 comments:
Can the government do more?
A midge borne virus has got to be one of the hardest diseases and vectors to control. Public health is a cinderella service and science is an under-resourced and insecure profession.
My liberal knee-jerk was no: the microorganisms will always get through. On reflection, yes the government could do more.
It will be good training for when malaria re-emerges here.
There are insecticides, and there is stuff you can splash on animals which is supposed to repel midges. It would be interesting to know what is the experience of farmers of these measures.
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