Bluetongue Moving Across Auvergne, French Government Ups Vaccine
FRANCE - Ten more cases of Bluetongue virus (BTV) have been confirmed on cattle farms in central France.
28 September 2015
1 minute read
A total of 88 cases have now been confirmed in cattle and sheep since the discovery of the virus on 21 August, reports the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), updating the number of infected farms to 28.
No fatalities have been recorded, although some animals have been destroyed.
The reports, from Friday, coincided with the French government increasing vaccine doses for serotype eight from 1.3 to 2.2 million.
Government vaccination strategy is prioritising animals due for export and stock in genetic selection programmes. Most exported animals are between six and 16 months old, a ministry press release said.
The latest cases have moved the focus slightly south easterly from the Alliers district, deeper into the Auvergne region in Puy De Dome.
A total of 5498 animals, made up of sheep and cattle, have been labelled “susceptible”, although cattle have been worst hit by the virus, so far recording 79 cases.
A protection zone of 120 kilometres, announced soon after the outbreak, contains a total of 4.6 million cattle and over a million sheep and goats.
To the south, Spanish authorities have "intensified" passive and active surveillance and are controlling cattle movement from France.
Spain has detected serotypes one and four in certain restricted areas of the country over the past year.
Michael Priestley
News Team - Editor
Mainly production and market stories on ruminants sector. Works closely with sustainability consultants at FAI Farms
