Lisbon, Nov. 5, 2024 (Lusa) - Portugal's Directorate-General for Food and Veterinary (DGAV) has temporarily authorised three medicines against bluetongue, two of which are not yet available on the market, it announced on Tuesday.
"The DGAV has authorised the temporary use of veterinary medicines - Bluevac 3 suspension for injection for cattle and sheep, Bultavo 3 suspension for injection for sheep and cattle and Syvazul BTV 3 suspension for injection for sheep and cattle," according to a technical clarification from the DGAV.
The first and last drugs are not yet available for sale on the national market.
Serotypes three and four of the bluetongue virus have affected all the districts of mainland Portugal, only Madeira and the Azores are free of the disease.
Bluetongue is a notifiable viral disease that affects ruminants and is not transmissible 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, detected for the first time on 13 September.
The vaccination of sheep and cattle against serotypes one and four is compulsory. Vaccination against serotype three is permitted.
Concerning serotype three, the latest figures, reported last week, indicate that 41 cattle farms have been affected and 102 animals, with no deaths.
In the case of sheep, there are 238 farms, 11,934 animals affected and 1,775 dead.
By district, Évora stands out, with 90 farms affected, and Beja, 76, followed by Setúbal (48) and Portalegre (20).
He told Lusa that the Ministry of Agriculture is preparing to step up support for producer organisations in the face of bluetongue disease and will invest in a disinsection plan to stop the spread.
In addition to reinforcing the annual subsidy given to producer organisations, Luís Montenegro's government will invest in a national disinsection plan to stop the spread of the vector and the disease.
The ministry led by José Manuel Fernandes said that this plan will prevent the spread of bluetongue serotype three and other diseases transmitted by insects, such as bovine haemorrhagic disease.
The government has not revealed when this plan will go ahead.
PE/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
