British farms face a record bluetongue outbreak that has already exceeded the total cases from the previous three years combined, according to The Guardian.
Bluetongue is a viral disease affecting sheep, cattle and other livestock. Symptoms include fevers, ulcers, swollen head and lameness. The disease gets its name from a potential symptom: the tongue may turn blue and protrude from the mouth. In severe cases, infected animals die.
The outbreak has spread as far north as Aberdeenshire in Scotland. The Guardian attributes the crisis to climate change, citing the disease's African origins and its northward expansion into British territory.
No specific case numbers, vaccination rates, economic impact figures or control measures are provided in the available excerpt.