BRUSSELS: Belgium has reported over 1,192 cases of bluetongue virus affecting livestock.

The Belgian Health Authority indicated that the bluetongue virus is spreading rapidly across the country, with cases rising from 874 last week to 1,192 this week.

The Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC) has recommended vaccinating cattle and sheep.

Belgium had been free of bluetongue for a long period, but an outbreak was discovered in a small sheep farm in October 2023. Prior to this, the virus had been spreading quickly in the Netherlands, and now France is also affected, though it poses no threat to humans.

Source: Emirates News Agency