Stockholm - Swedish authorities Monday launched a series of measures after the first case of a livestock disease known as bluetongue was diagnosed over the weekend in two cows in south- western Sweden. The National Board of Agriculture banned all transport of cattle, goats, sheep, and deer from a 20-kilometre zone around the farm in Halland where two cows tested positive for bluetongue disease.
The insect-borne viral fever affects livestock, but does not transmit to humans and cannot be spread through milk or meat.
Some 30 veterinarians and 30 defence force volunteers were meanwhile testing other livestock in the restrictive zone for signs of the disease, local radio reported.
The zone was believed to have some 20,000 head of cattle, goats and sheep.
A second protective zone, with a radius of 150 kilometres from the afflicted farm, was also introduced. No animals were allowed to be transported out of the zone but the agency said it would permit transports within it.
The agency said it could in certain cases allow direct transports of livestock for slaughter, and was considering mass vaccination within a 100-kilometre zone.
A hotline was set up for farmers wanting advice or more information about bluetongue, and efforts were coordinated with the county administrative board of Halland.
