News.Scotland.Org

It is feared that ‘Bluetongue’ a dreadful livestock virus is all set to enter Scotland by next year. Reports suggest that this disease was first found in a highland cow at a Suffolk farm in Britain. The virus is spread by insect and results fatal for the livestock.

While the government is cautious about the outbreak of this disease, UK Agriculture Minister, Lord Rooker in a meeting says, the disease could arrive on the British shores, there is nothing to panic, and “We have been expecting it because of what’s happened in Europe in the last couple of years. It isn’t a surprise,” he said.

Another reason why the arrival of this disease is considered threatening is due to its effect on the red meat industry. It is learnt that Scotland has a vast red meat industry, which is worth £1.5 billion per year. And if this disease will hit Scotland, then it will have an adverse effect on the growing market too.

There are assumptions that the disease is due to the result of global warming, it has been noted that bluetongue is spreading across north since Oct 1998, and since then around 3000 cases have been reported in Europe. Jim McLaren, the president of the National Farmers Union Scotland, said this dark cloud of bluetongue was hovering all round the summer from the shore of Europe. Borne by midges and this animal in England points that the disease had landed here.

After the information about the discovery of this disease in a nearby farm, all tests are going on to check whether any more fresh cases are reported. Even The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs informed that the first case can not be considered to be the outbreak of bluetongue, and its too early to say that it’s a wide spread.

The government tough has taken this matter seriously and is monitoring the situation so that in adversity they can fight out the disease. So government has kept there fingers crossed and are monitoring all small moments in this matter.

What is Bluetongue?

Bluetongue disease also known as ‘catarrhal’ fever is a insect-borne viral disease which effects sheep and other livestock’s. The disease is caused by a virus called bluetongue, it does not transmit to humans.

Trackback URI | Comments RSS