Ireland enters first summer “living with bluetongue” across the island
Ireland is entering its first summer with bluetongue virus in circulation, with seasonal increases in midge activity and warmer weather expected to raise the risk of spread.
Bluetongue virus has been detected across the island of Ireland for the first time in recent months, spread by biting midges*. With further spread likely in the spring and summer months, Dr Connor Bamford and Lucy Devlin from the MosquitoNI team comment on emerging risks to livestock and farmers as well as options for managing the disease.
Read the Science Media Center article
*Bluetongue virus is spread by biting midges of the genus Culicoides, which are relatives of mosquitoes.
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