New Bluetongue Strain Confirmed
NETHERLANDS - Authorities have confirmed a new strain of bluetongue has been discovered on three farms in the south of the country.
27 October 2008
1 minute read
Tests revealed the new strain is serotype six – a strain never before seen in Europe – and ministers have now imposed a 50km protection zone around the three infected farms.
With farmers in Northern Europe currently vaccinating against serotype 8 there are fears the disease could spread further as no vaccines have been distributed.
Confirming the findings, the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture said: “The type of bluetongue detected earlier this week in eastern Netherlands appears to be type six.
