Bluetongue fever (BCO3): 310 municipalities in Tarn are now part of the regulated zone

An outbreak of bluetongue (FCO3), detected in the department of Tarn-et-Garonne, led to an extension of the regulated zone in Tarn, where 310 municipalities are now concerned. FCO3 is a disease that affects domestic and wild ruminants. Present in mainland France since the beginning of August 2024, it was introduced to the north-east of France from the Netherlands. Given its major economic impact on the ruminant, cattle, sheep and goat sectors, this so-called regulated zone is set up in order to limit the progression of the disease.

The establishment of the regulated zone has two consequences: it imposes, during any movement of ruminants, sanitary conditions for leaving the zone both for the national territory and for the shipment of these animals abroad. The health conditions for movements are specified on the State services website; movements within the national regulated zone are free for ruminants (i.e. without blood analysis).

This strictly animal disease does not affect humans and has no impact on the health quality of foodstuffs (meat, milk, etc.). It is transmitted by biting insects of the Culicoides type (midges). The symptoms of the new serotype 3 are the same for serotype 8 and 4: fever, respiratory problems, salivation, facial edema, cyanosis of the tongue, etc. The disease can also be asymptomatic, which has been the case in mainland France since 2015.