The affected farm, which operates extensive livestock farming, had failed to immunize its entire herd, which must now be sacrificed completely. This new focus, detected two and a half months after the last case, is the eighteenth recorded in Catalonia.
“"There are veterinarians responsible for the vaccination, how is it that they did not communicate that not all animals were vaccinated? It is the responsibility of the administration, and if vaccination is mandatory, it must be enforced."
The first case of the disease appeared on October 3 in Castelló d'Empúries (Alt Empordà) and, in total, affected 17 farms, forcing the sacrifice of more than 2,500 cattle. On November 7, the Ministry of Agriculture reported that the containment of the outbreak was being achieved.
Following this new contagion, restrictions will be reapplied to farms located within a 30-kilometer radius of the outbreak for a minimum of 45 days. Livestock movement in this area will also be immobilized, reversing the planned lifting of restrictions for some municipalities in the Castelló d'Empúries perimeter.
According to Ministry figures, 99% of the livestock in the initial perimeters were already immunized. Now, Agriculture has set January 31 as the temporary limit for immunizing cattle, and after this date, movements of unvaccinated animals will not be authorized.
