*Bluetongue virus spreads in Netherlands *

 From correspondents in Amsterdam

August 09, 2007 04:55am
Article from: Reuters

THE bluetongue virus, which affects sheep and cows, has spread further
northwards in the Netherlands, and now affects 125 farms, the
Agriculture Ministry said overnight.

The disease, which causes fever and mouth ulcers and in some cases turns
the animal's tongue blue, broke out two weeks ago.

Bluetongue is transmitted by insects and can be highly dangerous to
sheep. It does not affect humans.

About 440 Dutch farms were affected by the virus in the Netherlands last
year.

Transport restrictions have been extended to the newly affected areas,
while the ban on transporting livestock due to the UK outbreak of foot
and mouth disease was still in place in the whole of the Netherlands,
the ministry said.

Bluetongue occurs sporadically in Mediterranean countries but last year
there were also cases in northern Europe, including the Netherlands.