Farmers fear deadly virus will reach Shropshire

Farmers in Shropshire were today anxiously awaiting a new report on a deadly virus which has wiped out livestock across Europe.

The Schmallenberg Virus has survived the winter and is circulating among livestock in Britain. There have been a series of cases on late-lambing farms, with hotspots identified in Dorset, West Sussex, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire and Kent.

The virus has not yet reached Shropshire and local farmers are hoping that it will not.

The virus has been found on 275 farms in England, with sheep and cattle farmers most affected. It has been identified mainly in southern and eastern England, but as far north as East Riding and as far west as Cornwall.

Defra Deputy Chief veterinary Officer Alick Simmons said ewes carrying Schmallenberg had become infected in January or early February.

He said: "This suggests that the disease probably over-wintered in midges. We probably have more infection transmitting out of the infected areas moving westwards and northwards as we speak."

Defra is now planning a major SBV nationwide surveillance programme.

The virus causes most of its damage in pregnant animals – leading to stillborn and deformed lambs and calves.