Outbreak of Bluetongue disease in Britain spreads to sheep

Bluetongue, the livestock disease that hit cattle in Britain last month, has spread to sheep, government veterinarians said Sunday.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the virus had been found in two flocks in Suffolk county, northeast of London.

Britain's first case of bluetongue was confirmed on a Suffolk cattle farm last month, and officials said the country faced a full-fledged outbreak of the disease. So far more than 30 farms have been affected.

The bluetongue virus is carried by midges — tiny flies — and affects cows, sheep and other ruminant animals. It does not affect humans, but can be fatal to livestock.

The disease is common in Mediterranean climates, but over the last year has spread north to Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Britain and Denmark.

Officials have imposed restrictions on the movement of ruminant animals across most of England's southeast in response to the outbreak.