Bluetongue or catarrhal fever is spreading in our country. It affects ruminants (mainly cattle and sheep, but also goats). On August 1, the AFSCA recorded 87 outbreaks. Today, Kathy Brison, spokesperson for the AFSCA, cites the figure of 308 outbreaks. She explains: “It’s related to weather conditions. Insects are proliferating. They are the vectors of the viral disease.”
A loss of production
On his farm in Grand-Hallet, Jean-François Warnant made the following observation: “It’s been about three weeks since I noticed a big rise in temperature in some cows. From 40 to 42 degrees. There is a drop in production from 33 liters of milk per cow per day to 26 liters. That’s still a big loss of production.”
A free vaccine in France but not here
There is a vaccine. It is recommended by the AFSCA and veterinarians. In France, starting tomorrow, doses will be distributed free of charge. This is not the case here, but Jean-François Warnant hopes that next year, the vaccines will be financially supported by the public authorities. Dr. Michaël Disteque, a veterinarian, reminds us that this disease is a virus. “So antibiotics are not used. We give anti-inflammatories. We treat the symptoms. We try to lower the temperature. We have no weapon against the virus,” he concludes.
