b'Bovine TBWhat is it?Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a disease arising from infection by a bacterium called Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis), one of 120 species of mycobacteria. Cows, buffalo and bison are the natural hosts but nearly all warm-blooded animals - including people - are susceptible to the infection. In people, the majority of tuberculosis is caused by M. tuberculosis, although humans can also become infected with M. bovis.History when animals are in close contact with During the 1930s, at least 40 per cent ofeach other. The intensification of the dairy British cows were infected with bTB 22 .industry and the move to permanently Many were kept near large cities to providehoused, zero grazed cows are, therefore, urban dwellers with fresh milk and mostreal causes for concern. Wild animals may were closely confined in poorly ventilatedalso become infected. sheds. Infected cows would shed M. bovis in their milk. While 20-30,000 people diedIn the UK, badgers were blamed for hosting annually from tuberculosis at that time 23 ,the disease and for passing it back to cows. around 2,500 of these deaths were due toDespite a 10-year trial cull concluding that infection with M. bovis, often caused bya badger cull could make no meaningful drinking infected raw milk 24 . With routineimpact on the epidemic in cows, 25the pasteurisation of cows milk and thegovernment approved a mass cull of the inspection of carcasses at slaughterhouses,previously protected wild species. Between this transmission largely came to an end.2013 and 2020, more than 100,000 badgers Routes of transmission were killed.Bovine TB is spread primarily when bacteriaIn 2018, an independent review found are released into the air through coughingthat frequent trading of cows and poor and sneezing. This transmission can occurbiosecurity on farms was hampering 8'