  There are strong indications that the process of conversion of a neutron star
into a strange quark star proceeds as a strong deflagration implying that in a
few milliseconds almost the whole star is converted. Starting from the
three-dimensional hydrodynamic simulations of the combustion process which
provide the temperature profiles inside the newly born strange star, we
calculate for the first time the neutrino signal that is to be expected if such
a conversion process takes place. The neutrino emission is characterized by a
luminosity and a duration that is typical for the signal expected from
protoneutron stars and represents therefore a powerful source of neutrinos
which could be possibly directly detected in case of events occurring close to
our Galaxy. We discuss moreover possible connections between the birth of
strange stars and explosive phenomena such as supernovae and gamma-ray-bursts.
