The French food safety agency, ANSES, is involved in monitoring the spread in Europe of epizootic hemorrhagic diseases, a potentially fatal viral disease of cattle that is transmitted by mosquito bites.
Eleven cases were confirmed in Spain in November and December last year, all in the Baetica, except for one that was detected in Extremadura, according to data from the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture.
ANSES indicated that the device was surrounded in France “to analyze any suspicious animal, especially among wild fauna”. The disease, widespread in Asia, Australia and Africa, was first detected on the European continent in October 2022 in Sardinia. Later the cases were confirmed in Spain.
The disease, spread throughout Asia, Australia and Africa, was first detected on the European continent in October 2022 in Sardinia.
Officials from ANSES explained that “although it is possible that the virus entered through the transport of infected cattle,” the most probable hypothesis is that they were transported by mosquitoes on the Mediterranean wind. This simultaneous appearance of the disease was developing in various parts of southern Europe. The virus detected in Europe is the same as that in Tunisia in 2021. This serotype has not been seen since its appearance in Australia in 1982.
ANES stated that “there is no vaccine against this serotype”. While waiting for them to arrive, “the only way to stop the spread of the virus is to test animals and prevent the transport of ruminants from infected areas, although their effectiveness is serious.”
Scientists must also determine if European deer are susceptible to the disease. “Small ruminants can be carriers of the virus but no symptomatic case has been detected,” specified the agency, adding that the virus is not transmitted to humans.
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