Lumpy skin disease: Minister Annie Genevard at the bedside of breeders in Savoie and Haute-Savoie

To mark the start of the cattle vaccination campaign, Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard will be visiting Savoie and Haute-Savoie on Thursday, July 24. The Minister took the opportunity to take stock of the spread of lumpy skin disease (LSD), a highly transmissible viral disease affecting cattle farms. The visit was a testament to mobilization and support for cattle farmers.

Since the detection of the first outbreak in Haute-Savoie on July 9. Two days later, a second outbreak was detected . The situation then rapidly deteriorated. As of July 20, 15 infectious outbreaks have been confirmed in the department. LSD, although not transmissible to humans, represents a serious threat to livestock: infected animals, even without symptoms, remain contagious.

As a reminder, the measures taken are strict: a ban on the movement of cattle in affected areas, systematic slaughter of infected or exposed animals, and strengthening of biosecurity measures. A decision by the Grenoble administrative court, dated July 19, validated the legality of these measures, deeming the measures "necessary and proportionate."

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According to the Ministry of Agriculture, less than 48 hours after the first national outbreak was confirmed, France ordered the maximum number of doses available from the European Union. Nearly 285,000 cattle are to be vaccinated within a 50-kilometer zone around the outbreaks. This includes the departments of Savoie, Haute-Savoie, Ain, and Isère. The campaign is mandatory and fully funded by the state.

Annie Genevard's ministerial visit will begin with a crisis meeting in Chambéry with prefects, local elected officials, agricultural representatives, bankers, the Mutualité Sociale Agricole (Agricultural Social Insurance Fund), and livestock farmers. She will also sign a support charter aimed at providing financial and psychological support to professionals affected by the crisis.

Late this morning, the Minister will visit the "Le Vernay" farm in Hauteville-sur-Fier, Haute-Savoie, where she will be able to see the implementation of vaccination campaigns and meet with farmers in the field.