The sudden emergence of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) on a water buffalo farm in Brandenburg, Germany, has left experts puzzled. Despite extensive investigations by the Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI), how the virus infiltrated the region remains a question mark. notably, no additional cases have been reported within a 1-kilometer radius of the affected site, adding to the mystery.
On January 11, the FLI identified the FMD virus as serotype O, a strain commonly associated with outbreaks in the Middle East and Asia. Though, the exact pathway the virus took to reach Brandenburg and infect the farm is still unknown.Researchers are working tirelessly to uncover the source of the infection, but progress has been slow.
The farm,wich operates organically,specializes in raising water buffaloes on home-grown hay. The farmer confirmed that no new animals or feed were introduced recently, eliminating these as potential carriers. Adding to the complexity,the farm also serves as a nature and walking area,making it challenging to trace the virus’s origin.Authorities are exploring various transmission routes to piece together the puzzle.
Concerns are mounting over the possibility of the virus spreading to wild animals, which are equally susceptible to FMD. In response,the Brandenburg State Hunting Association has mobilized hunters statewide to remain alert. They are encouraged to report any unusual cases instantly and take proactive measures to prevent further outbreaks. The situation underscores the need for vigilance and collaboration to contain the disease.
What are some other examples of letters or characters that have evolved from shorthand practices?
The letter ñ is a unique character in the Spanish alphabet, representing the palatal nasal sound /ɲ/. Its origins trace back to medieval shorthand practices. In medieval texts,a tilde (~) was often placed over a letter to indicate the omission of another letter,especially m or n. For example, fõtẽ or fōtē was used as shorthand for the Latin word fontem.
In Old Spanish,the sound /ɲ/ was typically written as nn. Over time, the tilde from the shorthand was adapted to mark this sound, leading to the creation of the letter ñ. This change was generalized from words like año, which derived from Latin words containing -nn-. today, ñ is a distinct letter in the Spanish alphabet and appears in many common words, such as señor, español, and niño. Its use is a defining feature of the Spanish language.
For more details, you can refer to the Wiktionary entry on ñ.
