 Bovine TB is caused by the m.bovis bacterium in badgers |
Although badgers are often seen as cute and cuddly animals, many harbour a deadly bacterium which can spread to cattle.
The bacterium M.bovis, found in badgers causes Bovine Tuberculosis.
Cases of the chronic disease, once eradicated in the UK, are now rising at an alarming rate.
In an unprecedented show of unity, hundreds of vets have written an open letter to the government expressing their 'despair' at the lack of measures to control the infection.
The letter to the Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett, calls for the strategic culling of badgers, especially in the west country - one of the worst affected regions.
Breakfast had more on this throughout Friday's programme
Our reporter Jon Kay was at the Secret World Badger Sanctuary in Somerset 'No confidence'
When figures for 2004 are gathered, they are expected to show 3000 cases of Bovine TB.
 | Bovine Tuberculosis Bovine TB must be notified to Defra Bovine TB caused by bacterium M.bovis European badger is a significant carrier of M.bovis Symptoms in cattle appear only when the disease is severe There were 88 incidents of the disease in 1986, expected to rise to 3000 when 2004 figures collated In the 1960s, the UK was M.bovis free |
Today's letter to Margaret Hodge by more than 300 vets, all members of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons accuses Defra of a 'wholly inadequate approach' to controlling the disease.
They would like strategic culling of badgers which would prevent the bacterium jumping species, they think it could soon be impossible to see the UK TB free.
The chronic disease causes a slow and painful death in the badgers and the vets want the government to take positive steps.
Notifiable disease
Defra says that Bovine TB is 'infectious and contagious'. It's described as a chronic or slowly progressing inflammatory condition.
Signs of Bovine TB only appear in cattle when the disease has reached the advanced stage.
The risk to humans from the bacterium is low due to the routine TB vaccination programme in young children, pasteurisation of milk and because meat for human consumption is now inspected.
One-Minute World News 
News services
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
Watch Jon Kay's report from Somerset 
