Vaccination is the most effective way to control the spread of lumpy skin disease among cattle, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) says in a study at the end of August.
When vaccination is thoroughly applied, partial culling of affected animals is as effective in eradicating the disease as whole-herd culling, which is currently required under EU legislation. Vaccination is most effective, EFSA states, if applied before the virus enters a region or a country. The Commission may, in light of this opinion, consider putting in place a mechanism to facilitate vaccination of animals against this virus.
A ministerial conference on this issue will be held in Sofia, Bulgaria on 7 and 8 September. Lumpy skin disease is a viral disease that affects cattle and is transmitted by blood-feeding insects. It has spread rapidly in Greece, Bulgaria and other Balkan countries over recent months. Austria expressed concern over the disease at July’s Agriculture Council. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)