Cows, sheep, ducks: worried Lot farmers have placed their livestock under close surveillance

In recent years, France has experienced a succession of crises linked to the emergence or re-emergence of epizootics. Currently the French territory is impacted, and in particular the Lot department.

• epizootic hemorrhagic disease

The first outbreaks of MHE were declared in France in September 2023 in cattle farms in the southwest: 3,729 outbreaks including 5 in the Lot. This infectious disease, not transmissible to humans, is caused by a virus and is transmitted exclusively by midges, the same as those of bluetongue (BFT).
The departments affected by the MHE since June 1, 2024 are: Haute-Garonne, Gers, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Hautes-Pyrénées, Landes, Maine-et-Loire, Pyrénées-Orientales, Ariège, Dordogne, Tarn, Tarn-et-Garonne, Aude, Aveyron, Loire-Atlantique, Lot-et-Garonne, Hérault, Vendée and Lot. At the beginning of October, the Lot had more than a hundred declared outbreaks.

Also read:
Already around a hundred herds affected in the Lot: MHE disease explodes and livestock farming suffers

A study is currently underway in infected farms to consolidate mortality and morbidity data. In almost all cases, the care provided allows sick animals to recover within a few days. The Ministry of Agriculture has initiated a voluntary vaccination system with the order of two million doses of vaccine, making it possible to protect one million cattle. These doses are made available free of charge to breeders. The State also supports screening when symptoms are present.
A fund to compensate for economic losses and veterinary costs was also deployed in 2023. In the Lot, a total of €63,000 euros was paid to the farms concerned. In 2024, work will be carried out with the National Agricultural Fund for Pooling Health and Environmental Risk (FMSE), around the possibilities of continuing compensation programs for sheep and cattle breeders affected by MHE.

To follow the evolution of the census of cases: https://agriculture.gouv.fr/mhe-la-entreprises-hemorragique-epizootique

• Sheep Catarrhal Fever (SCF)

Also called blue tongue disease, is a viral disease transmitted by midges to domestic and wild ruminants (sheep, cattle, goats). It has been present in France since 2017. There is a vaccine. In 2023, FCO (BTV 8) spread very significantly, the most affected departments were Aveyron, Tarn, Lot (250 outbreaks declared). In 2024, a new wave of spread is observed in the South West departments, but to a lesser extent for the Lot department (around ten outbreaks at the beginning of September). In addition to prophylactic measures, breeders are invited to activate the use of force majeure under the CAP, to limit economic losses due to the disease.

To detect the disease, the Ministry of Agriculture encourages all breeders to test their animals in the event of suspicion of FCO (serotype 3, serotype 8, etc.), with tests such as veterinary visits now being fully covered by the State. .
In addition to the voluntary vaccination campaign for FCO BTV 3, the State also encourages vaccination against FCO BTV 4 and BTV 8 to limit the resurgence of new serotypes observed.

To follow the evolution of the census of cases: https://agriculture.gouv.fr/la-situation-de-la-fievre-catarrhale-ovine-fco-en-france

• highly pathogenic avian influenza

Also read:
Avian flu: the risk will go from “moderate to “high” on Saturday in France

HPAI is a highly contagious viral animal disease. It affects birds in which it can cause, in its highly pathogenic form, episodes of mortality of up to 100% of the flock. France was particularly impacted between 2021 and 2023 by a succession of epizootic waves which led to the slaughter of more than 30 million animals. The Lot was affected in 2022 with 42 outbreaks detected and 281,000 poultry slaughtered (waterflies representing
85%). 48 farms were compensated for health losses (approximately 2.5 million euros) and €240,000 were covered by the State for rendering costs, analyses, equipment and veterinary costs.

Outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) have been detected in Ille-et-Vilaine, Morbihan and Finistère. After a duck vaccination campaign in 2023/2024, with the State covering 85% of the cost, a new campaign was launched on August 20, 2024, with the objective of vaccinating more than 50 million ducks, including 780,000 for the Lot department. The State will cover 70% of the costs generated by the first three months of this vaccination campaign, which started on October 1.

To follow the evolution of the case census:
https://agriculture.gouv.fr/influenza-aviaire-la-situation-en-france