Dutch identify bluetongue variant in livestock

The cases were found in a sheep and a cow and its calf at two farms in the center of the Netherlands last week. Bluetongue can be deadly for domestic ruminants such as sheep, cattle and goats. A new variant of the disease, BTV3, has been circulating in Europe since late last year, leading to vaccination campaigns in affected countries, including France and the Netherlands. The Dutch agriculture ministry said the BTV12 variant had been found previously in countries outside Europe, but that ...