The UK has suspended imports of stay cattle, sheep and goats from France following the outbreak of a illness which could be deadly to cows.
Epizootic haemorrhagic illness (EHD) has been reported in southern France for the primary time, having beforehand been recorded in Spain, Portugal and southern Italy.
The virus which causes the illness is often unfold to ruminants – hoofed herbivores corresponding to cows, deer and sheep – by the bites of contaminated midges.
More than 250 outbreaks of the illness have been recorded in Spain, Portugal and Italy because the illness was first noticed in Europe in November final yr.
Scientists within the UK say hotter summers brought on by local weather change could have contributed to the sharp rise in outbreaks in southern Europe this summer time.
The UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) says it’s “closely monitoring” the unfold of the illness.
However, it says the danger of the virus reaching the UK is at the moment “negligible”.
What is epizootic haemorrhagic illness?
EHD was first recognized within the US within the Fifties, however has since unfold to components of Africa and the Middle East.
It was first noticed in Europe on the Italian island of Sardinia in autumn final yr.
Scientists from France’s National Social Security Administration (ANSES) – who’re additionally monitoring the unfold of the illness – consider contaminated midges have been transported to Sardinia from North Africa “across the Mediterranean by the wind”.
Though DEFRA says the illness doesn’t have an effect on folks or meals security, it may be significantly lethal to deer, and can even kill cattle, sheep and goats.
There are at the moment no vaccines for the illness.
Symptoms in contaminated cattle embody a fever, weak spot, lack of urge for food, issue swallowing and a pores and skin rash on the udder.
Disease spreads to France
The illness was recorded for the primary time in southwest France final month, with 19 outbreaks reported throughout two areas of the French Pyrenees area.
The circumstances occurred inside 60km of latest outbreaks reported in Spain’s Huesca province and the Basque Country.
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Experts say the kind of biting midges thought to hold the virus can journey as much as 150km in sooner or later in beneficial wind circumstances.
However, there’s “no clear indication” but as to how the virus unfold throughout the Pyrenees mountains, based on DEFRA.
Trade of stay cattle suspended
In a bid to cease the unfold of the illness, French authorities have banned the export of stay cattle from six areas within the southwest of France and positioned restrictions on six neighbouring areas.
The UK has additionally postponed the commerce of stay cattle, sheep, goats, and deer – from France.
DEFRA says specialists are finishing up again tracing to determine any shipments of stay cattle from France over the previous 28 days.
According to DEFRA, the largest threat of the illness reaching the UK is thru contaminated midges “from areas we are trading with that have undetected EHDV”, however mentioned it thought-about the danger “negligible”.
A DEFRA spokesperson mentioned: “The UK remains officially EHD free, but we are not complacent against the risk it poses to our farmers.
“That is why imports of stay ruminants can now not be imported from affected international locations, whereas germinal merchandise are actually topic to extra testing necessities.
“The detections in Europe are an important reminder to all farmers to be vigilant in sourcing their stock and germinal products, ensuring imported animals are sourced from a disease-free country.”
According to HRMC knowledge, the UK imported £4m price of stay cattle straight from France final yr.
Source: information.sky.com”