British agricultural communities are grappling with an unprecedented bluetongue crisis, recording the highest number of cases in history. The current season’s infections have already surpassed the total count from the preceding three years combined, marking a significant escalation for livestock owners across the country.
The viral illness, which originated in Africa, poses serious health risks to sheep, cattle, and other livestock. Symptoms include high fevers, oral ulcers, severe facial swelling, and lameness. In advanced stages, the condition causes the tongue to turn blue and protrude, potentially leading to death in the most severe instances.
Experts attribute the rapid northward expansion of the disease to the climate crisis. The virus has now been detected as far north as Aberdeenshire, highlighting the growing impact of rising temperatures on the spread of vector-borne diseases previously confined to warmer regions.
Record numbers are bad, but is the diagnostic capability actually keeping up? Felt like delays were part of the surge.
My uncle loses three ewes a year to this now. It used to be rare, now it feels like the new normal.
I thought bluetongue was a southern Europe problem. Glad the UK is taking vaccination seriously despite the record cases.
This is terrifying for farmers. How do we even control vectors that have never lived this far north before?
Finally seeing it hit Aberdeenshire. The climate links are undeniable and the livestock losses are devastating.