France Tackles Bluetongue Outbreak Near Belgian Border

France faces an outbreak of bluetongue disease on a farm near the Belgian border. This insect-spread disease affects ruminants like sheep and cattle. Detected on July 30, the outbreak follows reports from Belgium. France initiates a vaccination drive, securing millions of doses to combat the spread.

France has reported an outbreak of bluetongue disease on a farm near the Belgian border, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) announced on Wednesday.

Bluetongue, transmitted by insects, poses a deadly risk to domestic ruminants such as sheep, cattle, and goats. The disease has been prevalent in the Netherlands, northern Belgium, and western Germany since late last year. The recent outbreak affected a sheep in Marpent, Haut-de-France, detected on July 30 and confirmed on August 5, as per WOAH's report based on French officials' information.

Anticipating the spread from southern Belgium, France's farm ministry formed a regulated zone around the latest Belgian outbreak and launched a voluntary vaccination campaign to mitigate the disease's impact.

France procured an initial 600,000 doses from Germany's Boehringer Ingelheim and 4 million doses from Spain's CZ Vaccines to be provided free to farmers.