Portugal has already purchased at least more than three million vaccines against bluetongue, which affects all districts on the continent, according to data presented this Tuesday by the Government, in parliament.
Vaccines against serotypes one and four were purchased by the General Directorate of Food and Veterinary (DGAV), while those for serotype three, detected on September 13, are purchased by producer organizations.
According to data presented this Tuesday, in parliament, by the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, José Manuel Fernandes, “for serotypes one and four, more than three million vaccines were purchased” by DGAV.
Against serotype three of bluetongue disease, producer organizations have already applied “100,000 vaccines”, with the Government providing total support of one million euros for this purpose.
In response to the deputies, in a joint hearing with the budget, Finance and Public Administration and Agriculture and Fisheries committees, José Manuel Fernandes clarified that, with regard to serotype three, it was the producer organizations that moved forward with the purchase of vaccines, one since the State is obliged to comply with public procurement rules, which would mean that vaccines would only arrive “in two or three months”.
Bluetongue or bluetongue is a notifiable viral disease that affects ruminants and is not transmissible to humans.
Three bluetongue serotypes are circulating in Portugal, namely BTV-4, which emerged for the first time in 2004 and was detected again in 2013 and 2023, BTV-1, identified in 2007, with outbreaks until 2021, and BTV-3, detected for the first time on September 13th.
Vaccination of sheep and cattle against serotypes one and four is mandatory. Against serotype three it is only permitted.
DGAV has temporarily authorized three medicines against bluetongue, two of which are not yet available on the market.
Serotypes three and four of the bluetongue virus have already reached all districts of mainland Portugal, only Madeira and the Azores are free of the disease.
With regard to serotype three, the latest data, reported last week, indicates that 41 affected cattle farms and 102 animals were recorded, with no mortality. .
In the case of sheep, there are 238 farms, 11,934 affected animals and 1,775 deaths.
By district, Évora stands out, with 90 affected farms, and Beja, with 76, followed by Setúbal (48) and Portalegre (20).
The Ministry of Agriculture is preparing to reinforce support for producer organizations in the face of bluetongue disease and will invest in a disinsection plan to stop the spread, he told Lusa.
In addition to reinforcing the annual subsidy given to producer organizations, Luís Montenegro’s executive will invest in a national pest control plan to stop the spread of the transmitting vector and the disease.
The ministry led by José Manuel Fernandes said that this plan will prevent the spread of bluetongue serotype three, but also other diseases transmitted by insects, such as bovine hemorrhagic disease.
The Government has not revealed when this plan will move forward.
Source: rr.sapo.pt
