Overview

• Health officials in Sardinia confirmed Europe’s first Lumpy Skin Disease case on June 21 and activated mandatory EU Category A eradication measures.
• Infected cattle have been culled and protection and surveillance zones plus trade bans have been imposed to contain the virus.
• The Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut issued a July 4 warning urging Germany to strengthen border monitoring and early detection procedures.
• Vector-borne by blood-sucking insects, LSD poses no risk to human health but causes fever, nodular skin lesions and steep production losses in cattle.
• Veterinary authorities recommend heightened vigilance and expanded vaccination campaigns to protect Europe’s dairy and meat sectors from further disruption.