Bluetongue - Europe: Netherlands, France

Netherlands on the alert after new cases of sheep disease
-----------------------------------------------
Dutch agricultural authorities placed the entire country under aspecial regime after the discovery of 2 new cases of bluetongue disease, deadly to sheep.

The Netherlands have notably stepped up export restrictions for cattle, sheep and goats.

The latest cases were 2 infected cows in the northern province of Friesland.

Bluetongue is a non-contagious, insect-transmitted, viral disease fatal to sheep but which is not known to affect humans.

[According to a press release of the Dutch Ministry of agriculture, the 2 cases were detected in bovines held on a collecting centre of bovines for export, in the vicinity of Leeuwarden in Friesland, northern Netherlands. The origin of these cows was not in the known infected area in Zuid Limburg, but in the province Noord Brabant, so far not known to be affected. This is the background to the decision to declare the entire territory of the Netherlands as a restriction area. For a map showing Netherlands' provinces, see http://www.supertravelnet.com/maps/index.php?action=showmap&country=223_0_4&language=1- Mod.AS]

Source:

Date: Sun 10 Sep 2006
Source: AFP via Todayonline, 9 Sep 2006 [edited]
http://www.todayonline.com/articles/141428.asp

International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org