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Source: http://www.healthcanal.com/infections/26390-Midges-actively-spread-bluetongue-epidemic.html
Midges ?actively spread? bluetongue epidemic
08/02/2012 15:48:00
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The midges that spread bluetongue, a devastating livestock disease, across Europe in 2006 weren?t ?passengers? on the wind but actively transported the disease, Oxford University scientists have found.
Bluetongue is a non-contagious virus that causes symptoms such as drooling, and swelling of the neck, head and tongue in sheep, cattle, goats, deer and other ruminants. It is transmitted between animals by the Culicoides midge.
It had been thought that the midges were ?passengers? carrying the disease wherever the wind blows them but now a team led by Oxford University scientists analysing the 2006 outbreak has shown that active movements of the midges were responsible for around 40% of the spread of the epidemic.
A report of the research appears in this week?s Proceedings of the Royal Society B...
Midges ?actively spread? bluetongue epidemic
08/02/2012 15:48:00
Font size: Decrease font Enlarge font
The midges that spread bluetongue, a devastating livestock disease, across Europe in 2006 weren?t ?passengers? on the wind but actively transported the disease, Oxford University scientists have found.
Bluetongue is a non-contagious virus that causes symptoms such as drooling, and swelling of the neck, head and tongue in sheep, cattle, goats, deer and other ruminants. It is transmitted between animals by the Culicoides midge.
It had been thought that the midges were ?passengers? carrying the disease wherever the wind blows them but now a team led by Oxford University scientists analysing the 2006 outbreak has shown that active movements of the midges were responsible for around 40% of the spread of the epidemic.
A report of the research appears in this week?s Proceedings of the Royal Society B...