190 outbreaks of bluetongue confirmed in France, a number that has quadrupled in 8 days

Bluetongue (BT), also known as blue tongue disease, is a viral disease affecting domestic (sheep, cattle, goats) and wild ruminants. As of August 22, 190 outbreaks had been recorded, spread across the following departments: Aisne, Ardennes, Haute Marne, Marne, Meurthe et Moselle, Meuse, Moselle, Nord, Oise, Pas-de-Calais. The number of outbreaks has more than quadrupled in France in eight days. "We are facing an explosion of cases, but still close to the first outbreaks (...) in an area that is not expanding much," the ministry said. This new serotype, first detected in the Netherlands, was reported in July in Belgium, near the French border. The spread of FCO is also accelerating in Europe, with Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium also being heavily affected. A targeted vaccination campaign was launched on 12 August. This start is considered to have started too late according to the National Sheep Federation (FNO). We are indeed in an explosion phase. We could have vaccinated a ...