123 calves from a farm in Alt Empordà euthanized due to nodular dermatitis

BarcelonaThe Generalitat (Catalan government) began this Saturday the slaughter of 123 calves from the Castelló d'Empúries farm in the Alt Empordà region (Girona), where the first case of lumpy skin disease (LSD) in Catalonia and Spain, a highly infectious disease among cattle, has been detected. It has also established a 20-kilometer security perimeter around the farm for 28 days and has immobilized 93,000 additional animals in the area.

The Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food reported this Saturday that the presence of the disease on this farm has been confirmed by tests carried out at the Central Veterinary Laboratory in Algete (Madrid). Of the LSD, which is not transmitted to humans, 67 outbreaks have been detected in France and 47 in Italy. The notifiable disease is caused by a virus that causes fever, nodules on the skin and mucous membranes and internal organs, as well as exhaustion, swollen lymph nodes, skin edema, and sometimes death.

After learning the laboratory results, the department's advisor, Òscar Ordeig, held a press conference in Barcelona in which he announced that, in accordance with European Union regulations, the culling of 123 animals has begun. In addition to the 20-kilometer security perimeter for 28 days—provided there are no new cases—a 30-kilometer surveillance zone has also been established from the edge of this restricted area. Surveillance of the 50 kilometers around the outbreak, which merges both perimeters, will be maintained for 45 days if there are no new cases. These measures are in addition to a ban on all animal movement and systematic clinical checks in the area.

93,000 head of cattle immobilized

Minister Ordeig explained that his department has quickly begun slaughtering all affected or potentially affected animals, 123 calves in total. Products related to these animals, such as carcasses, bedding, hides, manure, and feed, have also begun to be destroyed. Furthermore, disinfection of farm facilities and vehicles has begun, establishing strict control over the entry and exit of people, vehicles, and materials.

In the area included in the protection and surveillance zones, 800 farms with approximately 93,000 head of cattle have also been immobilized. Veterinary inspections have also begun on these farms to determine their health status.

The measures adopted by the Generalitat (Catalan government) after detecting the outbreak may also lead to blocking the export of live cattle from other farms in Spain to third countries outside the European Union. The department specified that "the extent of the impact will be determined by the ministry, the body responsible for exports." However, within the European Union, outside the 50 kilometers of the immobilization zone, livestock can currently move under normal conditions.