Serious animal disease is spreading in Europe, the disease has appeared in other place

Three million sheep live on the island of Sardinia, which is almost double the number of human population, and 40% of Italy's sheep population is also found here. The sector employs more than 27,000 people and plays an important role in the cultural identity of the Mediterranean island, including through products such as pecorino cheese made from sheep's milk. Bluetongue is therefore a serious threat to the sector. The disease, which also affects cattle but is less fatal, causes symptoms such as mouth ulcers, discharge from the mouth and nose, and a blue discoloration of the tongue, from which it gets its name. In recent months, the bluetongue disease has reared its head in several parts of Europe. Global warming contributes to its spread, which favors the proliferation of insects that spread the pathogen. The carrier of the virus is a small, 1-3 millimeter insect, Culicoides, which is active not only in summer but also in autumn due to the warming climate. Sardinia is ...