Apr 18, 2012 1:01pm EDT
After its outbreak in Western Europe last year, Schmallenberg virus has now hit Europen Union countries including Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Italy, Spain and Britain.
Thought to have been spread for hundreds of miles across Europe by biting midges and warm winds, this virus has been particularly harmful to the off springs of infected animals. These early pregnancy infections result in stillbirths and malformations such as brain deformities, twisted spines and locked joints.
So far, the research shows that this virus poses no threat to humans.
A former virologist and head of the animal health unit at the European Commission however warned that the rapid spread of the schmallenberg virus should be a cause for concern.
Farmers are waiting nervously in Britain, where the virus has been detected as far as the English Midlands.
There has been a limited direct impact on European Union's livestock producers so far.
Despite the fact that Schmallenberg does not affect pigs, the pig producers are facing significant indirect costs. This is due a ban on livestock imports to the bloc's biggest export market - Russia .
The European Commission also stated that the direct loses had not yet been quantified but range between several thousands to a few million euros.
The commission doesn't confirm that the circulation of the virus is limited to Europe but European Union countries are officially reported to being affected confirmed that director general of a Paris animal healthy body. http://tv.ibtimes.com/livestock-virus-spreads-across-europe/5035.html
Thought to have been spread for hundreds of miles across Europe by biting midges and warm winds, this virus has been particularly harmful to the off springs of infected animals. These early pregnancy infections result in stillbirths and malformations such as brain deformities, twisted spines and locked joints.
So far, the research shows that this virus poses no threat to humans.
A former virologist and head of the animal health unit at the European Commission however warned that the rapid spread of the schmallenberg virus should be a cause for concern.
Farmers are waiting nervously in Britain, where the virus has been detected as far as the English Midlands.
There has been a limited direct impact on European Union's livestock producers so far.
Despite the fact that Schmallenberg does not affect pigs, the pig producers are facing significant indirect costs. This is due a ban on livestock imports to the bloc's biggest export market - Russia .
The European Commission also stated that the direct loses had not yet been quantified but range between several thousands to a few million euros.
The commission doesn't confirm that the circulation of the virus is limited to Europe but European Union countries are officially reported to being affected confirmed that director general of a Paris animal healthy body. http://tv.ibtimes.com/livestock-virus-spreads-across-europe/5035.html
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