CAP calls for urgent action to combat bluetongue outbreak in Portugal

CAP stated that it is “essential” that the Government “immediately” decree mandatory vaccination against serotype 3 of Bluetongue disease for sheep and cattle, including it in the Animal Health Program (PSA) and making it available at no cost to producers. Alongside this measure, the Confederation also believes that the Brazilian State must coordinate and execute strategic disinsection actions, in order to eliminate as many mosquitoes as possible that transmit this virus. “As long as the aforementioned climatic conditions do not occur, and as long as vaccines are not administered to healthy animals, it is expected that the situation may worsen substantially. The impact on the sector is already devastating, with losses currently reaching around 6 million euros”, reads the CAP press release. According to data collected by the Confederation of Farmers of Portugal from its Associates and based on the statistics of animals killed by this disease in the same period last year, to this ...