Control and Vaccination Efforts Against Bluetongue in Alicante’s Cattle Sector
The Department of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries has begun vaccinating the regional cattle herd in Alicante after bluetongue was detected in a dairy operation in Orihuela. In the early days, veterinarians administered roughly 5,000 doses across sheep, cattle, and goats, with the majority directed at farms organized within the Sanitary Defense Groups, or ADS. These initial efforts aim to safeguard animal health, preserve farm productivity, and prevent the spread of the disease within the province.
The vaccination drive has targeted ADS facilities including beef cattle in Alicante, cattle destined for fattening in Vega Baja, and small ruminant operations across Marina Alta and Baixa, Villena, Vinalopó valleys, Elche, Baix Vinalopó, Rojales, El Pilar, and the Valencian Holstein association. The program is carried out by a dedicated team of veterinarians coordinating with ADS entities to ensure comprehensive coverage and traceability in real time. This coordinated approach seeks to protect livelihoods and maintain safe meat and dairy supplies for consumers.
To date, the department has received 63,700 vaccine doses at its offices in Villena, Elche, Alicante, and Pego, from a total order of 120,000 doses for bluetongue serotype four obtained from a León-based laboratory. This stock enables ongoing immunization as the landscape of the outbreak evolves, with the objective of extending protection across the province.
It is important to note that primovaccination against bluetongue in sheep requires a single two-millimeter dose, while cattle receive two four-millimeter doses, administered 21 days apart. This dosing schedule aligns with standard veterinary guidelines to establish effective immunity and reduce viral transmission risk.
The eleven veterinarians overseeing this vaccination initiative are systematically recording the identification and vaccination details of immunized animals to support timely registration and regulatory monitoring by the official veterinary services. Records are maintained across the province in eight regional offices and the Territorial Directorate, facilitating animal movement control as needed.
The current period corresponds to the vector-free season, which is expected to last until April. During this window, animal movements between farms are allowed, provided appropriate biosecurity measures are observed. Once this period ends, moving animals will require either vaccination or a negative PCR test after a quarantine period to ensure disease-free status.
Cold temperatures in recent days contribute to very low activity by culicoides mosquitoes, which carry bluetongue among livestock. As a result, disease progression slows. It is important to remember that bluetongue viruses do not affect humans, and milk, meat, and dairy products remain safe for consumption.
Control measures include the maintenance of sentinel farms where the entry of the virus is closely monitored to limit northward spread within the province. These sentinel sites help detect changes in viral activity early and enable rapid response to any new incursions.
The vaccination requirement is mandatory for bluetongue subtype four for all animals over three months of age in the sheep and cattle sectors across Alicante. Goat vaccination remains voluntary. This policy aims to achieve herd immunity and reduce the likelihood of outbreaks in mixed farming systems.
The bluetongue disease was first identified in a cattle operation in Orihuela on February 8, prompting immediate action by the department to secure vaccines and implement control measures. Bluetongue, also known as sheep catarrhal fever, is a viral disease declared compulsory in reporting and affects ruminants. It is transmitted by certain Culicoides mosquitoes. Importantly, the virus does not infect humans, so consumption of milk, meat, and dairy products remains safe for people.