Sardinia accounts for 40% of Italian sheep farming Spread of bluetongue virus supported by global warming Failed vaccinations due to multiple virus strains Virus killed 40,000 sheep in 2024, just ...

All of this is threatened by the viral infection, which has hit around a quarter of Sardinia's 13,000 sheep farms this year, killing 40,000 sheep and lambs, compared to just 5,000 in 2023.

ROME (Reuters) - On the island of Sardinia, a bedrock of Italian sheep farming, breeder Michela Dessi has seen 150 of her flock die and 140 lose their lambs in the last few months due to an insect ...