Bluetongue, a non-contagious, insect-borne viral disease that affects ruminants such as cows and sheep, has been spreading across Europe for a year.

The disease, also known as catarrhal fever, is difficult to control once it takes hold but is not a risk to humans.

"The State Veterinary Administration (SVS) recommends cattle and sheep breeders should vaccinate animals against catarrhal fever... as a preventive measure," SVS head Zbynek Semerad said in a statement.

The SVS has registered bluetongue outbreaks on 67 farms in seven of the Czech Republic's 14 regions.

It said it would restrict the movement of animals from the affected places as of Wednesday and declared a security zone covering the entire country.

The BTV-3 strain of the virus was first detected in the Netherlands in September 2023, before spreading to Germany the following month.

Cases have been recorded across Europe, including in Belgium, France, Italy and Spain.

Bluetongue is transmitted by biting midges. Symptoms in infected animals include high fevers, mouth ulcers and swollen heads.

It can lead to weakness and the loss of offspring for pregnant animals and is particularly deadly for sheep.

Climate change has worsened the spread of the virus, according to the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), as global warming impacts midge populations.