A new strain of bluetongue, a potentially fatal disease for sheep and cattle, has been detected across Europe after it was first recorded on Dutch farms.
The French department of Isère was affected by an epidemic of a new variant of the bluetongue disease. The virus is transmitted by small flies and can cause mouth ulcers, difficulty breathing and fever in sheep and cattle. In severe cases it can be fatal.
According to the French government, 31 animals have been infected, and local authorities suspect around a hundred more cases.
Farmer Cedric Ruzzin in Poliens saw 55 of his 150 lives die. He says that the remaining cattle that are alive have lost weight and have temperatures over 40.
Officials suggest that farms and local authorities were too late to recognize the new strain of the virus, meaning it had already spread to cattle herds before it could be contained.
The virus has also been detected in the Nord, Aisne and Ardennes regions – raising concerns that it could be a symptom of a larger epidemic, Euronews writes.
The new strain reportedly first appeared on Dutch farms, and has since caused outbreaks in Germany, Denmark, Belgium, Luxembourg, as well as France. In Belgium, over 500 farms have been affected by the new strain of the virus since it was first recognized in October 2023.
European Union officials have convened emergency meetings to address the crisis, with agricultural ministers from affected countries discussing strategies to contain the spread of the disease. Experts are warning that if the epidemic continues unchecked, it could lead to severe food shortages and economic instability across the continent.
Farmers are being advised to implement stringent biosecurity measures, including the isolation of infected areas and the use of new, experimental treatments that are being fast-tracked through regulatory processes. However, the effectiveness of these measures remains uncertain, and many in the farming community are expressing frustration over the lack of immediate solutions.
The outbreak has also prompted concerns about the long-term impact on the European food supply chain. With key agricultural regions under threat, the price of essential food items is expected to rise, further exacerbating the cost-of-living crisis in many countries.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) are closely monitoring the situation and have offered to assist European nations in combating the epidemic. International cooperation is being emphasized as crucial to stopping the spread of the strain, which, if not contained, could have global repercussions.
As research into the new strain continues, scientists are urging for increased funding and support for agricultural research to develop more resilient crops and livestock. The current crisis has highlighted vulnerabilities in Europe’s agricultural sector, and there are calls for long-term reforms to better protect the industry from future epidemics.
For now, European farmers and governments remain on high alert as they work to contain one of the most serious agricultural threats in recent history.
