What factor contributed to the spread of Blue Tongue virus in Europe?

What factor contributed to the spread of Blue Tongue virus in Europe?

• A. Climate Change
• B. Vaccination
• C. Deforestation
• D. Overfishing

Answer: (C)

Blue Tongue virus spreads primarily through biting midges, so the main driver of its spread in Europe is changes that affect those vectors. Warmer temperatures and longer warm seasons—hallmarks of climate change—let midges survive in more areas, breed more quickly, and stay active for longer parts of the year. This expands the geographical range of the vectors and the duration of transmission, allowing the virus to move into new regions and infect more ruminants. Wind patterns can also help carry infected midges across borders, speeding spread. Vaccination helps prevent disease but does not explain why the virus spreads more widely in the first place. Deforestation and overfishing are not established primary drivers of bluetongue transmission in Europe.

Blue Tongue virus spreads primarily through biting midges, so the main driver of its spread in Europe is changes that affect those vectors. Warmer temperatures and longer warm seasons—hallmarks of climate change—let midges survive in more areas, breed more quickly, and stay active for longer parts of the year. This expands the geographical range of the vectors and the duration of transmission, allowing the virus to move into new regions and infect more ruminants. Wind patterns can also help carry infected midges across borders, speeding spread.

Vaccination helps prevent disease but does not explain why the virus spreads more widely in the first place. Deforestation and overfishing are not established primary drivers of bluetongue transmission in Europe.