Defra has announced a £90,000 study to assess the threat posed to UK livestock and horses from insect and tick-borne viruses.
Scientists from Institute for Animal Health will work in partnership with the Veterinary Laboratories Agency over the next six months, looking closely at how a changing climate could change the diseases which threaten the UK.
Insect and tick-spread viruses are likely to be among the first to be affected by global environmental change due to the high mobility, small size, and rapid breeding potential of their hosts. And while many ‘imports’ traditionally associated with warmer climes would cause only mild disease, or would be unlikely to spread in the UK, others could result in much more serious consequences.
African horse sickness virus, for example, kills up to 90% of the horses it infects.
The scientists will identify the greatest threats to the UK and produce an up-to- date inventory of national facilities and expertise. They will also highlight areas where knowledge is lacking, and suggest priorities for future research. Find out more about the project here.
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