Shropshire farmers scared about shortage in bluetongue vaccine
Shropshire farmers are expressing concern over a shortage of the bluetongue vaccine as the virus spreads across the UK. While the government is working to secure more supplies, farmers fear significant livestock losses due to the insect-borne disease.
Why it matters
The potential for widespread livestock disease poses a significant threat to agricultural stability and food security.
Image source, Charlie Stubbs / BBC Image caption, Richard Yates originally only vaccinated his cows against bluetongue but when cases were reported nationally, he also did his sheep
A farmer in Shropshire says he is worried for animals across the country because of the spread of an outbreak of the potentially fatal bluetongue virus amid a vaccine shortage.
Richard Yates, from Middleton Scriven near Bridgnorth, at first only vaccinated his cattle, but once cases started to rise in the South West , he jabbed his sheep.
It is now "extremely difficult to get the vaccine", he said and warned farmers could be faced with "considerable losses" if their animals died from the outbreak,.
The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said it was "working closely with the industry and is putting processes in for additional vaccine supplies".
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