French Start Bluetongue Vaccination Programme

FRANCE - The French government is to launch a bluetongue vaccination programme across the country and institute aid measures to help farmers affected by the disease.

15 February 2008

1 minute read

Europe

Agriculture minister Michel Barnier said the aim of the vaccination programme was to cover all cattle, sheep and goats by the end of 2008.

The vaccination against serotype 8 Bluetongue will start in April and will initially cover all the 16 areas that have been affected by the disease since 2006. The rest of the country will see vaccination start in May.

Between April and August about 40 million dose of vaccine will be dispensed, vaccinating 15 million cattle and more than 10 million small ruminants.

The ministry will also be vaccinating against serotype 1 in six departments where this form of the disease has occurred.

The cost of the programme is expected to be €10 million and the European Commission is to pay half the costs.

The compensation package for the farmers will include €3 million in support and €4 million to compensate for animals that have died because of the disease through 2007 and at the start of 2008.

The serotype 8 vaccine is expected to be supplied by the animal health company Fort Dodge and the serotype 1 vaccine by the Intervet division of Shering Plough.