(Adds details, background) BRUSSELS/MILAN, Nov 9 (Reuters) - An exotic strain of the blue tongue virus affecting animals has been detected in Sardinia and a 20-km (12.5-mile) protection zone has been set up, the European Commission said on Thursday. Blue tongue is a non-contagious disease of both domestic and wild ruminants, especially sheep, which does not affect humans. Recent outbreaks of the disease have sparked concerns about impact on livestock and meat trade. "The Commission was informed on Monday that an exotic strain of the blue tongue virus serotype 1, different from those which have affected any part of Europe to date, has now been found in southern Sardinia, Italy," the EC said in a statement. The Commission said it appeared that the new strain had been transported from northern Africa by insects. "The disease is absolutely not dangerous for humans. People should not be afraid to consume milk and other products bought from the controlled trade," said Sardinia's regional health chief Nerina Dirindin said in a statement. Another regional government official said blue tongue disease has been present in Sardinia for years and since April of 2006 by now a total of 800 animals have died on the island. He did not specify if they were hit by the exotic strain or others. Italian veterinary centre Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Teramo put the number of dead animals in Sardinia at 300 as of Nov 6 in a report on its website www.izs.it. The region has asked the health ministry for a vaccine to fight the disease and meanwhile has blocked movements of animals and boosted cleaning stagnant water pools, where the insect which transmit the disease can multiply, the official said. The regional government said in a statement it has allocated 441,000 euros to increase the number of veterinary officers dealing with the outbreak and buy a specific insect repellent.
