Key resource
Factsheets
Livestock infectious diseases in a changing climate Aug 2025
Published 31/08/2025
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Who's involved
Our Experts
Prof Tom McNeilly, PhD
Scientific Director of the Moredun Research Institute and Chief Executive of the Moredun Foundation
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Frequently asked questions
FAQ
- Changes to the climate of the UK such as warmer, wetter winters are increasing survival of parasites and vectors, allowing more ticks, midges and fluke snails to survive into spring
- Warmer conditions in spring and autumn extend grazing seasons and allow vectors and parasites to remain active for longer, increasing infection pressure to grazing livestock
- New diseases are emerging or expanding their range into the UK, warmer temperatures allow non-native vectors and diseases to establish, bringing new disease risks
- Extreme weather events disrupt grazing and parasite control i.e. flooding can spread parasites or intermediate hosts from one area to another
- Current control programmes may become less effective, traditional timing of treatments and pasture management plans are often based on historic climate patterns that no longer reflect the current risk
- Lack of monitoring of new and emerging vector-borne and climate-sensitive infectious diseases could lead to delayed responses to disease outbreaks
- Unpredictable transmission patterns and evolving pathogen virulence can delay diagnosis of climate-sensitive infectious diseases
- Increased antimicrobial use in response to climate-related disease stressors accelerates selection for AMR
