Increase in Bluetongue infections on French farms, reaching 2,000 cases within a month.
French Farms Face Ovine Catarrhal Fever Outbreak
A separate epizootic, the spread of ovine catarrhal fever (FCO), has been exponential in French farms, particularly in the West. The Ministry of Agriculture has ordered seven million doses of vaccines against serotype 8 for all sheep farms.
The latest strain, FCO 3, which appeared in France on August 5, 2024, has affected 712 farms in a month, with the summer season favoring midges that transmit this disease. Brittany, which was less affected last year, is now seeing small farms at risk of being decimated. More than 2,000 cases of FCO have been recorded in a month, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.
The minister, Annie Genevard, is calling on all farmers to vaccinate their herds against both FCO3 and FCO8. The vaccine against FCO 3 is widely available through veterinarians, and the State is providing them free of charge for FCO8.
However, some farmers in the region may not have received the message about the importance of vaccination. The Peasant Confederation has criticized the extremely delayed delivery of vaccines, with Michelle Boudoin stating that they arrived a bit late.
The Peasant Confederation also demands compensation for indirect losses and veterinary fees. They call on the state to extend the 2024 compensation scheme for all livestock farms affected by at least one serotype of FCO or by the Hemorrhagic Epizootic Disease (HED).
In the east of France, a contagious nodular dermatosis is causing problems for farmers, leading to total culling of herds upon detection. Meanwhile, in the same period, 1,117 cases of FCO 3 were recorded, mainly in Brittany and Burgundy-Franche-Comté, and 1,060 cases of FCO8 were recorded, particularly in Morbihan.
It's worth noting that FCO8 has been endemic in France for several years. The State has obtained 15 million additional European aid for the sheep industry.
As of August 1, 2024, there are no specific and recent reports on current Ovine Catarrhal Fever (FCO) outbreaks or vaccination efforts on French farms in the available search results. The latest veterinary publications focus on other livestock diseases like sheeppox and Rift Valley fever with data mostly from outside France, and no mention of FCO in France is made. Therefore, for the most accurate and updated information, checking official French veterinary or agricultural ministry sources would be advised.
- The latest veterinary publications have not provided specific and recent reports on current Ovine Catarrhal Fever (FCO) outbreaks or vaccination efforts on French farms.
- In addition to FCO, other medical-conditions like contagious nodular dermatosis are causing problems for farmers in the east of France.
- The minister, Annie Genevard, is encouraging farmers to vaccinate their herds against both FCO3 and FCO8, with the State providing the vaccine for FCO8 free of charge.
- The Peasant Confederation has demanded compensation for indirect losses and veterinary fees, citing the delayed delivery of vaccines against FCO and urging the state to extend the 2024 compensation scheme to all farms affected by chronic diseases such as FCO or Hemorrhagic Epizootic Disease (HED).
