Norway has reported its first cases of bluetongue disease in over a decade, with both confirmed and suspected instances surfacing in sheep and other livestock. Bluetongue, carried by midges and ticks, poses no risk to humans but can be lethal to animals. The Norwegian Veterinary Institute detected bluetongue serotype 3, or BTV-3, in southern Norway on September 6.
The outbreaks in Norway follow a series of European bluetongue cases. Sweden, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, and France have all reported recent instances. In Denmark, zoos and animal parks began vaccinating their animals after cases emerged in early August. Sweden's west coast has also seen new cases this week. The disease spreads more effectively in warmer weather. Animals with bluetongue exhibit symptoms like high fever, mouth ulcers, and swelling in the face and tongue, which can turn blue due to lack of oxygen. Despite suffering respiratory issues, infected livestock continue to produce milk deemed safe for human consumption. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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