Although no new cases have yet been detected in Bulgaria, the threat remains high given the outbreak in neighboring countries. In Greece, the disease is spreading rapidly, causing great concern, especially due to the proximity of livestock farming areas in North Macedonia and Romania. Romania has therefore implemented tightened controls to protect border crossings with Greece and Bulgaria against the spread of the disease.
For the first time in fifteen years, the disease was also detected last week in ruminants in Denmark. This means that Denmark loses its international bluetongue-free status. This also means that Danish exports of cattle and bull semen to many countries outside the EU will stop.
More than 500 farms have been affected by the outbreak in Belgium. Minister of Agriculture David Clarinval acknowledges that the situation is serious and calls it a crisis. The rapid spread of the disease is leading to significant economic losses for livestock farmers.
The situation is also serious in Germany. Increasing numbers of infections are being reported in Saarland and other regions. Authorities have declared large areas as restriction zones, meaning strict controls apply to trade and transport of animals. However, German sector organizations are cautious about immediately opting for mass vaccination due to logistical challenges and vaccine availability.
In France, the disease is also spreading quickly, especially in the northeast of the country. French livestock farmers are very concerned about the impact of the disease on their businesses and are pushing for accelerated vaccination rollout.
The impact of the outbreak is not limited to the affected countries themselves; the export of live animals to other countries is also being seriously hampered. This puts the entire European livestock sector under great pressure. Bluetongue is not classified like avian influenza or African swine fever. As a result, EU authorities do not provide compensation for operational losses or euthanized animals when the disease hits a herd.
Sector organizations in various countries are calling for urgent measures, including a coordinated European approach. On Monday, the first Danish farmers can begin vaccinating their animals against bluetongue. The Danish Medicines Agency and the Danish Food and Drug Administration have jointly succeeded in sourcing 200,000 vaccine doses.
During a meeting with agricultural associations and the German federal states, the German BMEL Ministry urged livestock farmers to vaccinate cattle and sheep against bluetongue as quickly as possible.