Portugal has already purchased at least more than three million vaccines against bluetongue, which affects all regions of the continent, according to data presented this Tuesday by the Government in Parliament.

Vaccines against serotypes one and four were acquired by the General Directorate of Food and Veterinary Medicine (DGAV), while those of serotype three, detected on September 13, are acquired by producer organizations.

According to data presented this Tuesday, in parliament, by the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, José Manuel Fernandes, “for serotypes one and four, more than three million vaccines by the DGAV. Against serotype three of bluetongue disease, producer organizations have already applied “100,000 vaccines”, and the Government has provided total support of one million euros for this.

In response to the deputies, in a joint hearing with the Budget, Finance and Public Administration and Agriculture and Fisheries commissions, José Manuel Fernandes clarified that, with respect to serotype three, it was the producer organizations that continued with the purchase of vaccines, one, since the State is subject to public procurement regulations, which would mean that the vaccines would only arrive “in two or three months.”

Bluetongue or bluetongue is a notifiable viral disease that affects ruminants and is not transmissible to humans.

Three bluetongue serotypes circulate in Portugal: BTV-4, which appeared for the first time in 2004 and was detected again in 2013 and 2023, BTV-1, identified in 2007, with outbreaks until 2021, and BTV-3 , detected for the first time on September 13.

Vaccination of sheep and cattle against serotypes one and four is mandatory. Only against serotype three is it allowed.

The DGAV has temporarily authorized three drugs against bluetongue, two of which are not yet available on the market. Serotypes three and four of the bluetongue virus have already reached all districts of mainland Portugal, only Madeira and the Azores are free of the disease.

Regarding serotype three, the latest data, reported last week, indicate that 41 affected livestock farms and 102 animals were registered, with no mortality.

In the case of sheep, there are 238 farms, 11,934 animals affected and 1,775 deaths. By districts, Évora stands out, with 90 affected farms, and Beja, with 76, followed by Setúbal (48) and Portalegre (20).

The Ministry of Agriculture is preparing to reinforce support for producer organizations against bluetongue disease and will invest in a disinfestation plan to stop the spread, he told Lusa. In addition to reinforcing the annual subsidy given to producer organizations, Luís Montenegro’s executive will invest in a national pest control plan to stop the spread of the transmitting vector and the disease.

The ministry headed by José Manuel Fernandes stated that this plan will prevent the spread of bluetongue serotype three, but also other diseases transmitted by insects, such as bovine hemorrhagic disease. The Government has not revealed when this plan will move forward.

Government will hire 25 employees for the DGAV in 2025, including doctors

The Minister of Agriculture said this Tuesday, in parliament, that the Government will hire, next year, 25 employees for the General Directorate of Food and Veterinary Medicine (DGAV), including doctors.

José Manuel Fernandes announced the “hiring of 25 employees” for the DGAV, as one of the measures to guarantee an integrated vision of a single health and reinforce animal welfare standards. According to him, among these workers of the DGAV, the central service of the direct administration of the State, are veterinary doctors, without specifying the functions of the remaining employees who will be hired.