Mediaboss Marketing

By Sean Poulter

Last updated at 11:59 PM on 27th February 2012

A virus that has killed lambs and cattle does not pose a danger to humans, the Food Standards Agency has said.

Its statement will be welcomed by farmers, many of whom are concerned that consumers may turn their back on British lamb.

It came as the number of farms affected by the Schmallenberg virus, which causes birth defects and miscarriages in livestock, yesterday increased to 83.

Deadly: Farmers fear Schmallenberg disease will spread across the country

The Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency said that the virus had been detected in 78 cases in sheep and five in cattle, on farms across southern and eastern England.

The FSA said: 'Based on current evidence, there is unlikely to be any risk to consumers through the food chain from the virus that is causing abnormalities in livestock.

'No illness has been reported in humans exposed to animals infected with the Schmallenberg virus.

'Consumers should continue to follow the normal food hygiene precautions when handling, preparing and cooking all foods to reduce the risk of illness from harmful micro-organisms.'

The Schmallenberg virus has spread to cattle sparking fears for livestock

Farmers are seeing limbs of their lambs fused together and joints that don't work

The virus first emerged in the Netherlands and Germany last year, causing mild to moderate symptoms in adult cattle, including reduced milk yield, and stillbirth and birth deformities in sheep, goats and cattle.

The AHVLA said none of the affected farms reported importing animals last year from affected areas in Europe.

A spokesman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said that the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control had also reported it was unlikely that the virus, which is thought to be spread by midges, would cause disease in humans.

Malcolm Bennett, professor of veterinary pathology at Liverpool University, added: 'The economic and social effects of the disease for farmers whose animals are infected are still to be seen.

'The main effect in sheep is on unborn lambs, so only now, as we enter the peak period for lambing, are we beginning to see the extent and severity of the disease.'

Alistair Mackintosh of the NFU said: 'For any business to lose 20 per cent of your stock would be a huge blow. For a farmer it is catastrophic. If it was 50 per cent you would be put out of action.

'I know one farmer who says 10 per cent of his 6,000 ewes have become barren, so that is 600 animals producing nothing.'

In Germany and Holland the virus was detected in adult cattle, causing symptoms including reduced milk yield. In Britain the calving season has not yet begun, so the impact on foetuses is not yet clear.

The counties worst affected so far are Norfolk, Suffolk, East Sussex and Kent but the virus has already spread along the south coast to Cornwall and parts of south Wales.

The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has not ruled out direct transmission between animals but said a ban on imports would be pointless as the disease is already here.

In 2007 millions of sheep and goats on British farms were killed as a result of bluetongue virus, which was also brought in by midges.

It has now been eradicated but farmers are concerned that a vaccine for Schmallenberg does not exist  and could take 18 months to two years to develop.

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UK's lambs being wiped out by killer Schmallenberg virus amid fears disease could spread to humans