The Government confirms ten outbreaks of bluetongue serotype 3 in Mallorca.
This Sunday, two new outbreaks were confirmed in Alaró, five in Bunyola, and three in Palma.
PalmThe Government has confirmed ten outbreaks of bluetongue serotype 3 in Mallorca. In a press release, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Natural Environment, through the Directorate General of Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Development, reported that, during these three weeks since the detection of the new bluetongue serotype 3, ten outbreaks of the disease have been confirmed in Mallorca.
The Government, together with the Health Defense Groups (ADS), is concentrating the efforts of the eradication plan in the municipalities located within a ten-kilometer radius of the first outbreak detected in Bunyola.
In this regard, the Directorate General is carrying out intensive work to detect all suspected farms. Samples are being taken, an epidemiological survey is being conducted, and blood samples are being sent to the reference laboratory. To date, 58 suspected farms have been identified: ten have tested positive; seven are negative, and the rest are pending results.
All farms are located within the priority area. Thus, the general director, Fernando Fernández, has explained that "all farms with a confirmed outbreak and all farms with suspicion have already been vaccinated."
As of October 5, two new outbreaks have been confirmed in Alaró, five in Bunyola and three in Palma. In addition, there are farms with suspicion and awaiting results in Algaida (1), Andratx (1), Bunyola (10), Calvià (4), Consell (1), Esporles (6), Inca (1), Marratxí (2), Palma (10), Sant Llorenç des Cardassar (1), Selva (1), Selva Valldemossa (1).
The director general, Fernando Fernández, recalled that "these cases are within a ten-kilometer radius of the first outbreak declared in Bunyola, which was the priority area to begin vaccination." "Veterinarians are doing very efficient work, and more than 5,000 animals from 79 livestock farms in Mallorca have already received the first dose of the vaccine," he stated. "Even so, we cannot yet confirm that the spread of the disease is completely under control."
Serotype 8
The General Directorate, in collaboration with the ADS (Agricultural Services) and veterinarians, and with the aim of moving forward as quickly as possible with vaccination against serotype 3, has decided to temporarily delay the start of vaccination against serotype 8, given that the results show a high level of immunization in cattle.
"As this immunization is guaranteed for a full year, we can wait until November to administer the doses of bluetongue serotype 8," Fernández concluded. It should be noted that bluetongue is a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes of the Culicoides genus, which affects various ruminant species, but has no impact on public health.
