France has announced its sixth case of bluetongue disease in livestock within eight days, this time in the eastern region of Marne, according to a statement from the prefecture on Thursday.
The disease, transmitted by insects and fatal to sheep, cattle, and goats, has been prevalent in the Netherlands, northern Belgium, and western Germany since late last year. France's initial outbreak of BTV3 bluetongue was reported on a sheep farm near the Belgian border last week. With Thursday's report, six outbreaks have now been confirmed across five northeastern departments.
In response, the French farm ministry announced last week an acceleration and expansion of its vaccination program, increasing the total number of free vaccines for farmers to 6.4 million doses. This includes 1.1 million doses for sheep and 5.3 million doses for cattle, up from the previous total of 4.6 million doses.
