Preventive actions will extend across the Valencian Community after bluetongue was detected on a cattle farm in Orihuela. The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries announced a regionwide disinfection requirement for all goat farms starting April 1, provided that animals have not been vaccinated in advance. This measure complements the vaccination program for cows and sheep in Alicante, which is slated to begin soon. Farmers voiced concern about potential disruptions to marketing and urged rapid administration of doses, but veterinarians reassured stakeholders that the virus does not affect humans, so there is no public health risk.
On Wednesday, the Ministry disclosed that bluetongue emerged on a sentinel farm housing 180 cows, marking the first outbreak in the Valencian Community in the last 15 years. The virus, spread by Culicoides mosquitoes, attacks wild and domestic ruminants. The affected facility sits near the border with Murcia, a region where the outbreak was declared late last year, underscoring cross-border transmission dynamics.
The Ministry emphasized prioritizing vaccination for all sheep and cattle aged more than three months in the province, while immediate prevention, surveillance, and control measures were activated to curb spread. The autonomous government announced an urgent initiative to procure the initial 120,000 vaccine doses. Approximately 90,000 animals across both species are registered in the area, with 81,000 sheep and 9,000 cows forming the regional herd composition.
Beyond the initial steps, additional complementary measures targeting goat farms will take effect on April 1, coinciding with the end of the current vector-free period. The Ministry stressed that, with the date approaching, farms throughout the Community will be required to disinfect facilities to prevent the Culicoides vector from establishing a presence, unless animals have already received voluntary vaccination.
Plans are in place to begin administering vaccines to sheep and cattle in Alicante in the coming days, with a target of vaccinating all eligible animals before April.
New cases also prompted attention in Zamora province, drawing reactions from industry voices. Juan Luis Gimeno, head of Asaja Alicante, acknowledged the concern stemming from the outbreak while noting that bluetongue does not affect people. He emphasized the need for swift, effective action to safeguard an industry that has faced elevated production costs and prices, urging the department to respond with maximum agility to prevent escalation.
Reassuring medical authorities
Veterinary leaders offer a calm message. Gonzalo Moreno del Val, vice-president of the General Council of Spanish Veterinary Schools, states clearly that humans cannot contract bluetongue through meat or milk from infected animals. He adds that direct animal-to-animal transmission is not a factor, and transmission occurs via mosquito bites. The timely detection of the outbreak was fortunate, occurring at a moment when the responsible insect population was limited, reducing the risk of unnecessary livestock movements.
Regarding animal health effects, Moreno notes that sheep experience the highest mortality rates, which can reach up to 30 percent in severe cases. In many instances, the virus is detected only through laboratory tests, with cattle showing mild or no symptoms. The same is true for goats, which may exhibit minor health issues that are not always noticeable without testing.