Epidemic (animal)

France imposed stricter controls to contain the contagious lumpy skin disease in cattle, saying the culling of entire infected herds was necessary to prevent the deaths of at least 1.5 million cows despite mounting farmer protests.
Lumpy skin disease is a virus spread by insects that affects cattle and buffalo, causing blisters and reducing milk production. While not harmful to humans, it often results in trade restrictions and severe economic losses.
Several outbreaks were confirmed this week in southwestern France, including at a farm with over 200 cows in the Ariege region. Authorities ordered all cows culled, sparking protests from farm unions who called the policy exaggerated and cruel.
"It is clear that the State's strategy is not effective, despite the systematic culling carried out as a precaution as soon as an infected bovine is detected in a herd," Coordination Rurale union said in a statement.
Rallies and blockades, including the dumping of liquid manure and burning tyres, took place on Thursday in several regions. Disruptions continued on Friday.
By December 9, France had detected 109 outbreaks of the disease, according to the ministry's website. About 3,000 cattle were slaughtered, accounting for 0.02% of the total French herd, the ministry said.
France says that total culling of infected herds, alongside vaccination and movement restrictions, is necessary to contain the disease and allow cattle exports.
"Slaughter is the only solution," Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard said in the Le Parisien daily.
"If we don’t apply this protocol, Europe will put France under lockdown and nothing will leave the country. No animals, no cheese, no milk. Even now, while we have the situation under control, we can no longer export a single raw milk cheese to Canada and Britain," she added.
If the disease continues to spread in livestock farms, it could kill "at the very least, 1.5 million cattle", she said.
The head of farm union FNSEA, Arnaud Rousseau, called for calm, backing the government's strategy and stressing the need to prevent restrictions that could lower meat and dairy prices.
The ministry said on Friday it had created a new regulated area covering six departments in southwestern France where movements would be restricted and surveillance enhanced.
It has regularly pointed to illegal movement of animals as a likely cause for the disease's spread in France.
Reporting by Sybille de La Hamaide; Editing by Toby Chopra, Kirsten Donovan