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Farmers Block Ariège Farm to Halt Culling After First Local Lumpy Skin Disease Case

Officials are weighing nationwide preventive vaccination in 2026 despite declaring the situation contained.

Overview

  • Authorities confirmed the department’s first case at Les-Bordes-sur-Arize and issued an infection order requiring the depopulation of a 208-head herd, a 50 km regulated zone, movement restrictions and rapid vaccination in the area.
  • Roughly 200 farmers with about 40 tractors blocked access roads to the farm to oppose the cull, with law enforcement on site as tensions rose around the planned operation.
  • The Agriculture Ministry says the outbreak is under control, citing 108 detected outbreaks across seven departments since June and about 3,000 cattle euthanized under the control strategy.
  • The government has launched discussions on possible nationwide preventive vaccination in 2026, with a decision-focused meeting due in late January and concerns raised over export conditions and logistics.
  • Emergency vaccination continues in regulated zones, some of which have eased restrictions after high coverage, and officials stress the disease does not affect humans or food safety.