Brussels, 09/11/2006 (Agence Europe) - Further outbreaks of bluetongue (a sheep disease) in North-Rhine Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate in Germany, and in Denekamp in the Netherlands, led the EU's Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health to decide on special measures on 8 November because despite cold weather (which may kill the insect that spread the virus), the disease is continuing to spread, with over 1600 outbreaks confirmed since the first case was reported in the Netherlands in mid-August, mostly in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands (317). Five outbreaks have been recorded in France and a handful in Bulgaria. The disease affects ruminants, cannot be transmitted to human beings and has no impact on meat.
The latest outbreaks mean that the bluetongue restriction zone in Germany will be extended to cover more areas in Baden-Württemberg, Bayern and Niedersachsen. All of the Netherlands is already covered by a bluetongue restriction zone. Under a 2000 EU Directive, all Member States where bluetongue is detected must establish a 20km protection zone around the outbreak where live animals and semen and embryos may not be transported, apart from to abattoirs, and 100 km protection zones around outbreaks and a further 50 km surveillance zone.
The Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health has established a new 20 km restriction zone in southern Sardinia, Italy, because of the outbreak of an exotic strain of the bluetongue virus (serotype 1), different from those which have affected any part of Europe to date (serotype 8). Serotype 1 is thought to have come from northern Africa, transported by the insect vectors. Earlier this month, Portugal also reported a new outbreak of bluetongue, although of the type that has occurred in southern Europe for years. A restriction zone has been in place in Portugal for several years (the entire regions of Algarve, Alentejo, and parts of Ribatejo e Oeste and Beira Interior). Serotype 4 is often found in Portugal and other countries in south-eastern Europe (Greece, Italy, Spain and Corsica). (lc)