The Battle Against Ovine Catarrhal Fever: France's Vaccination Campaign and the Fight to Protect Livestock
In recent developments, France has been grappling with the resurgence of ovine catarrhal fever (FCO) in its livestock, sparking a major vaccination operation to safeguard its farming communities. The country's decision to initiate targeted vaccination comes on the heels of the discovery of two new outbreaks of FCO-BTV3, bringing the total number of such incidents to three across France as of August 8.
Responding to this concerning trend, a regulated zone (ZR) has been expanded to a radius of 150 kilometers around the identified hotspots. The list of affected municipalities and the delineation of this zone can be accessed on the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty's website.
The voluntary targeted vaccination campaign is set to kick off on Monday, August 12, and will run through December 31, 2024. A total of 6,400,000 vaccine doses will be distributed free of charge to farmers, comprising 1.1 million doses for sheep and 5.3 million doses for cattle.
The vaccination strategy encompasses regions such as Hauts-de-France, Normandy, Ile-de-France, Grand-Est, Centre-Val de Loire, and Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. This geographical area aligns with where FCO-BTV8 had spread back in December 2007, introduced from Belgium in July 2007.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty is actively collaborating with industry stakeholders to combat the disease's spread and mitigate its impacts. This voluntary vaccination initiative stands as a crucial step in protecting herds and ensuring the health security of livestock in France.
For further updates and information, farmers and professionals in the sector are encouraged to regularly visit the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty's website for ongoing developments and resources.
