Access

Published online 12 February 2007 | Nature | doi:10.1038/news070212-2

News

Badger culling may increase TB spread

Boosting badger movements also boosts infection risk, study finds.

Culling badgers to reduce the incidence of bovine tuberculosis (TB) among farm cattle may in fact worsen the spread of the disease, according to a study of the disease's prevalence among different badger groups.

British government researchers surveyed more than 1,800 badgers and found that low rates of TB correspond with low levels of badger migration between groups.

Comments

Reader comments are usually moderated after posting. If you find something offensive or inappropriate, you can speed this process by clicking 'Report this comment' (or, if that doesn't work for you, email redesign@nature.com). For more controversial topics, we reserve the right to moderate before comments are published.