In total, 12 farms in Mallorca and one in Menorca have at least one confirmed case of bluetongue, as revealed this Monday by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural Environment after holding a meeting with the sector to analyze the situation of the disease.
The Director General of Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Development, Fernando Fernandez, Working with members of the animal health and welfare team, she shared technical working documents with the sector “to prevent the spread of the disease throughout the archipelago through measures such as disinfection of farms, animals and transport”.
During the meeting, which was attended by the different agricultural associations of the Balearic Islands, cooperatives and livestock health defence groups (ADS) with their veterinarians, among others, it was explained that There are 13 confirmed outbreaks of serotype 8 in the Balearic Islands, all in sheep, although we are waiting to know the results of samples taken from other farms.
“We have decided to extend the restrictive measures to Ibiza and Formentera even though they have not detected any outbreaks. We are doing this as a preventive measure,” stressed the general director.
In this sense, the Government has been keen to convey a message of security to the population since “This health alert has no impact on public health”Bluetongue is a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus Culicoides and affecting ruminants of different species.
While waiting to start the vaccination campaign, which will only be possible at the end of the year given that there is no stock of vaccinesThe Department follows the procedure and action protocol established by both the European Union and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
Thus, all confirmed outbreaks must be compulsorily registered in the Veterinary Health Alert System (RASVE) and the movement of live cattle between farms has been restricted and they cannot be exported abroad to virus-free areas without a negative PCR test.
In this sense, a meeting is scheduled for September 24 between the heads of animal health services of all the autonomous communities with the ministry to establish the protocol for the movement of animals between the affected areas and the areas free of bluetongue.
Fernández also added that these health measures will last at least a year and that fairs or competitions in which ruminants are present, which are the animals that suffer the most from this disease, will not be allowed.
