2023-12-20 17:11:30
Title: Rare Bluetongue Infection Found in Dutch Livestock
In a rare and concerning development, a pregnant dog in the Netherlands has tested positive for bluetongue infection, prompting an investigation into the possible spread of the disease among livestock in the area.
The infected dog, a pregnant female that lost her puppies prematurely, was later put down. While the vet took into account a potential connection between the infection and the symptoms of the disease, it cannot be confirmed at this time. It is also possible that the dog may have suffered from another illness.
The source of the dog’s infection is unknown, and there were no suspicious cases on the livestock farm where the dog was located. However, the disease was found in two of the twelve blood samples from the cows on the farm.
According to the NVWA (Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority), infected cattle often have fewer symptoms of the disease but can still carry a significant amount of the virus in their blood.
Bluetongue infections in dogs are extremely rare, with only a few cases reported in recent decades. Despite this, the Minister of Agriculture has advised dog owners to keep their pets away from stables and to prevent them from coming into contact with afterbirth or colostrum, the first milk from a cow after the birth of a calf.
Experts estimate the likelihood of a dog becoming infected with bluetongue as “extremely small”, but the discovery of the infected dog has raised concerns about the potential spread of the disease among livestock in the region.
The NVWA and other health authorities in the Netherlands are closely monitoring the situation and working to prevent any further spread of the bluetongue virus. Further investigations will be conducted to determine the source of the infection and to prevent any future cases in both animals and humans.]
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