A Virus Moves North

[jayfish]

http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2006/825/1?etoc

AMSTERDAM--The sudden emergence of an insect-borne disease of livestock in northern Europe has plunged the agricultural sectors of three countries into crisis. At least 45 farms in the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium have so far been affected by bluetongue disease, which infects ruminants such as cows, sheep, goats, and deer. Scientists are trying to find out how the disease, which had made inroads into southern Europe over the past 8 years, made the giant leap north, and what its potential for further spread is.

Researchers aren't sure why bluetongue is moving north. In a paper published last year, Purse and colleagues suggested climate change might have triggered its recent spread into southern Europe. Other explanations, such as a more virulent strain or changes in land use, agriculture, or animal health systems, seemed implausible, they said, and the disease had struck primarily in those areas that had heated up the most.

Three cheers for global climate change! It gets better every day and our country is being run by a bunch of clowns who don't even acknowledge its' existence.

Jay