Incurable virus killing thousands of Lambs

Incurable Virus Killing Thousands Of Lambs

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7:22am UK, Saturday February 18, 2012

Emma Birchley, east of England correspondent

A new virus is causing lambs to be born with deformities so severe that they
die within seconds.


It is thought midges brought the Schmallenberg virus to Britain from
continental Europe last autumn.

The foetuses of newly-pregnant ewes bitten by the insects often fail to
develop properly.

At Mayfield Farm near Mildenhall in Suffolk, 75 of the 1,700 lambs born so
far this year were affected.

"In a ewe that was carrying twins, she would have a job lambing it. You would
have to pull it out," said farmer Clive Sleightholme.

"The legs were fused together and tucked underneath, its head was angular,
not formed properly.

"They had undershot jaws and they weren't fleshed out properly but nearly
every one was alive when it was pulled out but only lived seconds up to a
minute."

The legs were fused together and tucked underneath, its head was angular, not
formed properly

Farmer Clive Sleightholme

The Schmallenberg virus, which is not thought to cause risk to humans, was
first identified in Germany in November. There have also been cases in Belgium,
France and the Netherlands.

Vet Toby Kemble has already seen deformed lambs at eight out of 10 sheep
farms he has been to in north Norfolk this year.

"It's concerning for the farmer, from their point of view they are losing
lambs and losing productivity but it's very upsetting seeing the lambs," he
said.

So far the majority of confirmed cases have been in Suffolk and Norfolk. But
farms in Kent, East Sussex, Essex and Hertfordshire have also been affected.

And in West Sussex the virus has been found not just in sheep but also
cattle. Most lambs and calves are born in the spring so for many farmers it is a
waiting game.

"It's a new virus so we just don't know what's going to happen," said Mr
Kemble.

"It may be we have seen the peak already but what we may be seeing is the tip
of the iceberg and it's just going to get worse and worse."

Farmers do not even have to tell the authorities although they are advised to
provide samples. At one farm, a quarter of all lambs were affected.

With healthy animals selling for £100 each it means a serious financial
impact.

Saw it this morning and one sheep had twins and one was deformed....more little things.

I think this is tragic kitti, what is wrong with our Farming industry that so many viruses occur, mad cow disease was dreadful, then the chicken virus,
now this, not forgetting the outbreak of cucumber? disease found in Germany and other countries.