Bluetongue, bovine - Algeria (M'sila)

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

Source: AFP via Todayonline.com, 6 Sep 2006 [edited]
<http://www.todayonline.com/articles/140718.asp>

Bluetongue sheep disease found in Algeria
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Algeria has detected 80 cases of the farm animal disease known as
bluetongue, which has struck sheep and cows in several European
countries since last month [August 2006], television reported.

The insect-borne virus was detected in 60 sheep and 20 cows in the
rural region of M'sila, 250 km (155 miles) southeast of the capital
Algiers, an agriculture ministry spokesman said.

Television pictures showed trucks spraying insecticide in the area,
and the spokesman said veterinarians had the situation under control.

The disease is fatal to sheep, causing fever and swelling and turning
their tongues blue. It is not contagious or known to affect humans.

Cattle and goats often show no clinical signs but can carry the virus
for a certain period of time and transmit it to sheep, though it is
generally spread by insects. [There is no direct transmission of the
bluetongue virus among susceptible animals, only vector-borne;
occasionally, the virus may be transmitted iatrogenically, e.g. by
the repeated use of injection needles during mass vaccinations. - Mod.AS]

Newspapers also reported cases of the virus in cattle at Kabylie,
east of Algiers. It was earlier detected in the Netherlands, Belgium,
Germany and France.