EU milk productivity hit by tough transportation rules
The serotype eight version causes more than 50% mortality in sheep, and is likely to kill weaker cattle such as calving cows. It is blamed for reducing milk production in the past two years below quota in the worst affected member states.
Unless an effective vaccine becomes available in early 2008 it is feared that the disease will spread and become endemic in a large part of the EU. The economic impact would also be expected to increase exponentially, particularly for sheep breeders.
