“Bluetongue Outbreak 2024: Worst Season on Record Hits British Farms as Climate Crisis Spre” — what this page in the network covers. British farmers are facing the worst bluetongue outbreak in recorded history, with cases already exceeding the combined total of the previous three years. The viral disease, which primarily affects sheep and cattle but can infect other ruminants, causes high fevers, mouth ulcers, facial swelling, and lameness. In severe cases, the tongue turns blue and may protrude, often leading to death.
The outbreak has now spread as far north as Aberdeenshire, a region previously considered too cold for the midges that transmit the virus. Experts link the unprecedented spread to the climate crisis, as warmer temperatures allow the insect vectors to survive and expand into new areas. The economic impact on livestock farms is expected to be significant, with movement restrictions and trade implications adding to animal welfare concerns. The full version stays on the original page, which this listing opens directly.