Following numerous outbreaks of Bluetongue across Western Europe in the past year, Switzerland has become the latest country to witness its first case of the disease. Veterinary authorities have confirmed that six animals in the Basel area have tested positive for the disease and a 20-kilometre protection zone has now been imposed.

The disease, which until 2006 had only ever affected livestock in Mediterranean countries, has been discovered in Belgium, northern France, Germany, the Netherlands and Scandinavia in the past year alone. With recent outbreaks in the UK and Denmark and another case suspected in Germany, Swiss officials said that they cannot rule out further instances of the disease.

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