Europe - A new virus that affects animals in
Britain, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium is cause for
concern according to the European Food Safety Authority.
The virus, called Schmallenberg and
named after its town of possible origin in Germany, causes birth
defects in cattle, sheep, and goats. It causes abnormalities of the
head, neck, and limbs.
The EFSA is looking into how the virus,
which comes from insects, will affect livestock in upcoming months
and years, as well as how it will affect the human population.
According to
Commission health spokesman Frederic Vincent “Nothing shows at this
stage that the virus can infect human beings, but nevertheless we
have asked EFSA to look into that as well”
Russia has, at the moment, banned
imports of sheep and goat meat from the European countries in
question.
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