UK farmers face worst-ever outbreak of bluetongue virus

British farmers are grappling with the worst outbreak of bluetongue virus on record, with case numbers this year surpassing the combined total of the previous three years, according to reports from the agricultural sector.

Bluetongue is a viral disease that affects sheep, cattle and other ruminant animals. Symptoms can include fever, ulcers, swelling of the head, and lameness. In severe cases, the tongue of an infected animal can turn blue and protrude from the mouth, and the disease can prove fatal.

The virus, which originated in Africa, has been spreading across the United Kingdom and has now been detected as far north as Aberdeenshire in Scotland, far beyond the regions where it has traditionally been found.

Experts point to the changing climate as a key factor behind the virus's expanding range, as warmer conditions allow the midges that transmit bluetongue to survive and spread into areas that were previously too cold for them.

The scale of this year's outbreak is raising concern among farmers and veterinary authorities about the economic and animal welfare impact on the livestock sector, with calls growing for enhanced surveillance and control measures to limit further spread of the disease.