Over 850 Bluetongue cases have been detected in Allier province of central France recently, the provincial council said in a statement Wednesday.

The statement said the agriculture and environment committee under the council has found 854 cases of Bluetongue, or the ovine catarrhal fever (FCO), in livestock farms of the province until July 24.

More cases are expected to be recorded in the near future, it said, adding the provincial council is planning to allocate 172,500 euros (US$268,910) to aid the affected farmers.

Bluetongue disease is an insect-borne viral disease of ruminants, mainly of sheep and less frequently of cattle, goats, buffalo and deer. It is caused by the Bluetongue virus. There are no reports of human transmission.

Bluetongue cases used to occur in warm countries such as Greece and Italy in southern Europe, but after 2006 cases have been registered in Belgium, France, Britain, Germany and the Netherlands.

(Xinhua News Agency August 1, 2008)