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THE HAGUE (AFP) — The Dutch agriculture ministry has said that it suspected “some sheep farms” in the south of the Netherlands could be infected with so-called bluetongue virus.

The ministry statement said Thursday it expected the results of tests taken at the sheep farms by the end of the week.

“It is the European laboratory of record in Britain which is handling the (biological) tests,” Marjet Heins, a ministry spokeswoman, told AFP.

All delivery of animals to and from the farms concerned has been halted to avoid any risk of spreading the virus.

Bluetongue is a non-contagious, insect-transmitted, viral disease of sheep, which is not known to affect humans, according to the European Union …

Information provided by: Findarticles.com

THE HAGUE (AFP) — The Netherlands suspended exports of live ruminants after a sheep farm in the south of the country was infected by so-called bluetongue virus, the Dutch agriculture ministry announced.

“A farm in Kerkrade has been hit by catarrhal fever,” the ministry said in a statement.

It was the first time bluetongue disease, found in Greece and Italy, had been reported in northern Europe, the ministry added.

The authorities immediately halted exports of live ruminants — cattle, sheep and goats — and embryos, sperm and cells from those animals. The freeze on exports might last for several weeks, the ministry said.

In an effort to contain the outbreak, ruminants as well as pigs and horses must be kept indoors within a 20 kilometre (13 mile) radius of the infected farm and may not be transported. Use of insecticides is …

Information provided by: Findarticles.com