The Department of Agriculture will force all goats and cows over 3 months old in the province of Alicante to be vaccinated after the recent confirmation in Orihuela of a first case of serotype 4 of the ‘Blue Tongue’ virus. The sample sent to the Central Veterinary Laboratory of Algete, attached to the Ministry of Agriculture, has tested positive for a sample from a bovine farm.
Bluetongue or sheep bluetongue is a viral disease, classified as notifiable, that affects only ruminants and is transmitted by the bite of certain species of mosquitoes of the genus culicoides. In no case does it affect humans, it is not transmitted to people, and, therefore, it is safe to consume milk, meat and their derivatives.
Since 1998, the virus has been present in southern European and Mediterranean countries, from where it has gradually spread to areas that were previously free of the virus. But it was not until now that the first case was discovered in the province of Alicante.
Due to the detection of this first case, controls and specific protection measures in relation to bluetongue were activated, at the same time as the disease was officially declared. The first of these is the mandatory vaccination against serotype 4 of the bluetongue virus for all animals over three months of age of the ovine and bovine species throughout the province of Alicante. To this end, an emergency action will be carried out to purchase the first 120,000 doses of the vaccine.
Likewise, the Ministry reiterates the obligation to inform the official veterinary services of any clinical suspicion compatible with the disease. For the moment, the movements of animals susceptible to the disease will not be affected.
2024-02-13 11:57:06
#Agriculture #forces #cows #goats #Alicante #vaccinated #confirming #case #bluetongue
