BBC: Leprosy threat to red squirrels

[Quartz]

Oh dear. Another disease is the last thing they need. Or are the BBC scaremongering?

Scotland's red squirrels are facing a new threat from a form of leprosy, according to scientists in Edinburgh.

Six cases caused by a bacteria similar to Mycobacterium lepromatosis have been confirmed in the squirrels since 2006.

6 cases in a decade?

 

[Greebo]

Oh dear. Another disease is the last thing they need. Or are the BBC scaremongering? <snip>

Those are just the cases spotted on red squirrels coming to feeders, so they're assuming that there may be more who are alive with the disease in more isolated areas.