Lisbon, Oct. 30, 2024 (Lusa) - Bluetongue disease has already affected at least 279 cattle and sheep farms, mainly in Portugal's Alentejo region of Évora and Beja, and has caused the death of 1,775 animals, according to figures made available to Lusa by the Ministry of Agriculture.

Bluetongue is a compulsorily notifiable disease, but according to the government, notifications have only arrived with information on livestock, subject to sampling.

The latest figures available, reported on Monday, show that 41 cattle farms have been affected, with 102 animals affected and no deaths.

In the case of sheep, there are 238 farms and 11,934 animals affected and 1,775 dead.

By district, Évora stands out, with 90 farms affected, and Beja, with 76, followed by Setúbal (48) and Portalegre (20).

Then come Castelo Branco (eight), Santarém (eight), Aveiro (five), Vila Real (five), Lisbon (four), Bragança (three), Guarda (three), Viana do Castelo (three), Leiria (two), Porto (two), Coimbra (one) and Faro (one).

Braga and Viseu are the only districts where there are no known farms affected by blue tongue.

These figures relate to the number of livestock farms confirmed positive for BTV-3, the bluetongue serotype first detected on 13 September.

Bluetongue is an infectious viral disease that cannot be transmitted to humans.

Three serotypes of bluetongue are circulating in Portugal, namely BTV-4, which first appeared in 2004 and was detected again in 2013 and 2023, BTV-1, identified in 2007, with outbreaks until 2021, and BTV-3.

"Affected animals are not subject to sanitary slaughter under current legislation. Bluetongue is a category C disease, according to the classification defined in EU regulations, which means that it does not have a compulsory eradication programme, so there are no health culls planned," said the ministry headed by José Manuel Fernandes.

PE/AYLS // AYLS

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