Re: Bovine TB
I saw this and thought it interesting.
They are killing so many badgers, but in fact it seems that infected cows can infect the badgers as well as the other way round.
So if a cow has become infected from another contaminated cow sneezing for example, then the infected cows can pass TB on to the badgers.
Then the poor badgers get the blame and get murdered!
Have a look here:
" There is still some uncertainty surrounding bovine TB and the way it is transmitted, but it is mainly a respiratory disease, caught by breathing in the M. bovis bacteria that cause bovine TB.
This usually happens when animals are in close contact with each other, so animal density is a major factor in the transmission of M. bovis.
Bacteria released into the air through coughing and sneezing can spread the disease to uninfected animals.
Direct transmission can happen, eg through nose to nose contact. There is also evidence that indirect transmission is possible, eg through contact with saliva, urine, droppings, pus from abscesses, etc.
We know bovine TB is transmitted from cattle to cattle; from badgers to cattle and cattle to badgers; and badger to badger.