Foot and Mouth, Blue Tongue... New Disease Plagues U.K. Farmers

LONDON, U.K. -- November 1, 2007 -- A mysterious skin disorder affecting farmers at lambing time has been discovered by a Hampshire farmer and a team of doctors from Southampton, the British Journal of Dermatology will reveal.

Following several turbulent months for U.K. farmers, with outbreaks of foot and mouth and blue tongue, dermatologists have now discovered a disorder which affects the farmers themselves.

The strange disorder specifically targets the ears, which initially become hot, itchy and sore and soon suffer blistering and crusting which can be painful and unsightly. No other parts of the body are affected.

The symptoms are also confined to lambing season (which usually lasts from one to three months) and disappear promptly when lambing is over.