EU member state experts, meeting on Thursday 15 September, endorsed a set of preventive measures proposed by the European Commission to tackle lumpy skin disease.
This follows on from the ministerial conference on the disease in Bulgaria on 7-8 September. New movement restrictions on live cattle and other animal products at risk of infection have been introduced. New regionalisation rules have also been agreed.
An EU reference laboratory (in Belgium) has been selected to contribute to the prevention and eradication of the disease in the EU. The Commission is also currently extending the vaccine bank to help member states and neighbouring non-EU countries cover the initial response to lumpy skin disease before national authorities purchase their own vaccine supplies.
In an opinion delivered on 9 August, the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) recommended the vaccination of cattle as the best disease control measure (see EUROPE 11615). Lumpy skin disease, which affects cattle and is transmitted by biting insects, has spread very quickly in Greece, Romania, Bulgaria and the Balkans in recent months. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)