The dissemination of Catarrahal sheep fever has been exponential in recent weeks on French farms, and particularly in the West, with more than 2,000 homes identified in a month, according to official figures broadcast on Friday by the Ministry of Agriculture.
The number of FCO Sérotype 3 spotlights has more than duplicated last week to reach 1,117 since June 1, while for serotype 8, the number of homes increased from 682 to 1,060 between July 24 and 31, growth similar to that of 2024, a terrible year for French herds.
Strong progression
Catarhale sheep fever, also called “blue tongue disease”, is transmitted by ruminant flies. According to the Ministry, it does not affect humans and has no impact on the quality of the health of meats or milks. However, it causes abortions, reduces milk productions and can be fatal, especially for sheep.
This disease, once confined to the Mediterranean perimeter (Greece, Italy, Spain), appeared in France in 2006. It now affects a large part of the territory, particularly in the great west, in Brittany and the Pyrées-Atlantiques.
The warm climate in June was able to contribute to the proliferation of FCO carriers, whose number is also less regulated by birds and bats in the shortage process.
Last year, the epidemic contributed to a strong increase in the price of butter.
Source: BFM TV
