Animal Health and Welfare Northern Ireland (AHWNI) is expressing concern over the high incidence of sheep scab in the region's sheep flocks, as revealed by blood samples indicating long-term infestations. Lead researcher Dr. Stewart Burgess is leading scab control projects in Northern Ireland, England, and the Western Isles of Lewis and Harris, with particular concern for hotspots in Northern Ireland due to the risk of widespread scab. AHWNI emphasizes the need for early action to combat the disease, which can compromise animal health and welfare, and highlights the economic importance of the sheep industry in Northern Ireland. AHWNI is advocating for increased collaboration between government and farmers to address endemic diseases like sheep scab, with a focus on improving sheep health and welfare, boosting productivity, combating antimicrobial resistance, and enhancing environmental sustainability through a project funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), which has received significant support from over 80 sheep farmers.