Why is the disease called bluetongue?
It is caused by a deadly virus spread by midges that mainly affects sheep, but can also infect cattle, goats, deer and other ruminants. Symptoms include swelling of the head and the neck, lameness, internal bleeding, and ulcers of the mouth, nose and eyes. The tongue may turn blue under pressure created by the swelling, giving the disease its name. The virus has infected nearly 3,000 animals in northern Europe since July, where the death rate has been about 30 per cent. Unlike foot-and-mouth, it does not spread from animal to animal but is instead transmitted by midges, which bite an infected animal and then transfer the virus to an uninfected one. Is it as bad as foot-and-mouth? It depends how you look at it. It is worse for sheep, killing up to 70 per cent of flocks and causing a painful, lingering death. Infection in cows is often symptomless but can still lead to spread of the disease. There is no risk to humans. Although it is more lethal than foot-and-mouth it is not contagious a
