Government response

Myths busted: Schmallenberg virus

All the evidence currently suggests that the disease was brought into the UK from infected midges blown across the Channel. 

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Published: 3 March 2012

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

The myth: a comment piece in the Daily Telegraph suggests that the Schmallenberg virus was brought into the UK from live imports and not from midges.

The truth: All the evidence currently suggests that the disease was brought into the UK from infected midges blown across the Channel.  We have seen no evidence to suggest that it was from imported livestock. 

We are closely tracking the disease and will continue to work with partners across Europe and the UK to develop our knowledge of the disease as quickly as we can and help the farming industry understand what they are facing.

Published 3 March 2012