Foot and mouth

We work with Defra to assess the possible airborne spread of the foot and mouth virus. Defra is responsible for reacting to outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease and other potentially contagious diseases, such as fowl pest.

Bluetongue

Bluetongue is a disease which affects cattle and sheep and is spread by midges infected with the bluetongue virus. Their activity is highly dependent on environmental conditions such as temperature, wind speed and precipitation. Our Bluetongue service can now be accessed through Hazard Manager.

Schmallenberg

The Met Office is working closely with the  Institute for Animal Health (IAH) at Pirbright, Defra and the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) to provide advice on the possible wind-borne spread of the Schmallenberg Virus.

It is believed that the virus is carried by midges. Although the prevailing winds in Britain are from the southwest, conditions are right for a few days a month for midges to be blown across the North Sea from areas where infection has been recorded and into the eastern and southern counties.

For more information about our services for Government, please email us.