October 9, 2007

FAO: Animal diseases move up from tropical to temperate zones

The recent arrival of Bluetongue virus in the UK confirms animal diseases are advancing globally, the UN's Food and Agricultural Organization said Monday (October 8).

"Transboundary animal diseases that were originally confined to tropical countries are on the rise around the globe," said FAO Chief Veterinary Officer Joseph Domenech.

"They do not spare temperate zones including Europe, the US and Australia," he added. "Many countries are still not prepared to deal with this new threat."

Globalization, the movement of people and goods, tourism, urbanization and mostly likely climate change are all helping to spread animal diseases, the FAO said. This will require countries to invest more in surveillance and control measures.

Bluetongue was first discovered in South Africa but crossed the Mediterranean by the end of the 1990s. Since the summer of 2006, the virus has been found in Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and the north of France and most recently in the UK

Bluetongue affects ruminants such as cattle, goats, deer and sheep and is spread by Culicoides insects. It isn't transmitted directly between animals and doesn't affect humans.

The UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs confirmed a total of 25 premises were infected with Bluetongue disease as of late last week.