What exactly is the bluetongue virus?
Bluetongue reappeared in the Netherlands for the first time in September. The disease is transmitted by midges, very small biting flies, and mainly affects sheep, but cattle and goats can also become ill. According to the NVWA, alpacas and deer are also at risk. Zoo animals such as camels, dromedaries, giraffes and okapis can also become infected.
In animals that are very sick, the tongue turns blue. They also have a high fever, drool, walk lame and have a rounded back. Sheep in particular die from the disease. Bluetongue is not transmissible to humans. Companies where the virus breaks out have a reporting obligation.