Strain of bluetongue in Netherlands raises cattle import concerns

FARMERS have again been advised not to import livestock after a new form of the bluetongue virus was confirmed in cattle in the Netherlands.

Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith said that the BTV6 serotype had not been reported previously in the European Union and was not known to be present in Europe or in surrounding areas.

The information available from the Community Reference Laboratory is that the virus isolated is most likely to be a vaccinal strain of BTV6. It bears a strong resemblance to a live attenuated bluetongue vaccine produced in South Africa for administration to sheep.