SBV throughout England and Wales
Reports have indicated that the schmallenberg virus, a disease that can lead to stillborn or deformed lambs, has now spread to every county in England and Wales.
Government scientists believe the virus was carried to England by midges blown across the Channel last year, and is now carried by native midges. It has spread rapidly over the country during the summer months.
Nigel Gibbens, the government's chief veterinary officer, said: "We've seen quite rapid geographic spread. That means a lot of herds and flocks will have been exposed to the disease. The likelihood is that many of them won't show disease because they weren't infected at the right time to show disease.”
Cases have been documented on 976 farms in England and Wales, however officials believe the true number of cases is higher. The first sign is often when livestock give birth to deformed or dead young - which can be months after infection has occurred.
Evidence from Europe suggests that around six per cent of infected sheep flocks and four per cent of infected cattle herds will suffer symptoms of the disease, which is only dangerous when it is passed to the unborn lamb or calf. Flocks that are infected should expect to lose between two per cent and five per cent of lambs.
A vaccine is being developed, which if proved safe and effective, could be available in the UK in time for next year's lambing season.
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
