A total of eight farms across four provinces in the Netherlands have reported cases of the new bluetongue virus serotype 12 (BTV-12) in cattle and sheep. The minister has lifted the blockade from the first two farms and there are currently no transport restrictions. The Royal GD and the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) are conducting research on the symptoms and spread of the new variant. So far, one of the existing vaccines does not match the Dutch variant of BTV-12. The source of the virus is currently unknown, but there is no evidence of illegal vaccines being used and no animals have been imported from areas where BTV-12 is prevalent.