41 outbreaks of bluetongue confirmed in 6 departments in northern France

Contaminations are spreading across France. 41 outbreaks of a new type of bluetongue (BTV), also known as "blue tongue disease", were confirmed as of August 14 in six departments in northern France, the Ministry of Agriculture said on Friday. They are spread across Aisne, Ardennes, Marne, Moselle, Nord and Oise, the ministry said in an update on the number of farms affected. A "regulated" zone of 150 kilometers around the confirmed outbreaks, where the movement of cattle, goats and sheep is subject to restrictions in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus, now extends to 30 departments. The new serotype 3 of this virus, which is not transmissible to humans, was first detected in Europe in September 2023, in the Netherlands, before being detected in Belgium, Germany and the United Kingdom in the following months. The first cases were confirmed in early August in France, Luxembourg and Denmark. The spread of the disease is currently accelerating in several countries, with the ...