If the markets ever collapse, aid will be studied, Marc Fesneau declares on France Inter.
For the first time in France, health authorities have officially detected epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) on farms. “For the moment, it does not destabilize the markets too much,” reassures Saturday September 30 on France Inter Marc Fesneau, Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty. Nineteen cases have so far been recorded: sixteen in Hautes-Pyrénées and three in Pyrénées-Atlantiques.
This disease is due to a virus transmitted mainly by a biting midge and results in fever, anorexia, lameness, respiratory distress which sometimes leads to the death of the animal. On September 21, the Ministry of Agriculture counted only three cases of this disease which affects wild animals, especially deer, but also cattle and goats. It is not transmissible to humans.
Disinfestation in progress
Since October 25, as a safety measure, exports of live cattle have been prohibited for all farms within a 150 km radius around the affected farms, although with several exceptions such as sending animals to the slaughterhouse or returning summer [période où les troupeaux paissent en montagne]. Five departments are concerned: Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Hautes-Pyrénées, Gers, Landes, Haute-Garonne.
Health rules will be slightly relaxed from October 1, the Ministry of Agriculture announced in a press release. “From now on, any animal required to leave the regulated zone linked to confirmed outbreaks of this disease must have previously undergone a laboratory screening test attesting to the absence of contamination, in addition to disinsection.” to kill any biting midges. “We are working with export countries, in particular Italy and Spain, to ensure that flows can take place in sanitary conditions that respect regulations but which do not completely block them”explains Marc Fesneau on France Inter.
No emergency aid at the moment
The Minister of Agriculture wants to reassure breeders: “We have always been aware of any crises that may have arisen on farms, such as avian flu.” The question of emergency aid is not on the table “to date” because for the moment the identification of epizootic hemorrhagic disease in France “do not destabilize the markets too much”. But the question will be re-examined “if the markets collapsed, if we were not ultimately able to export”promises Marc Fesneau. “We will see in the coming weeks what happens”, he continues. The ministry announces in its press release that a “weekly review will be carried out every weekend”.
Marc Fesneau warns that“we will have more and more diseases that we did not have on our territory”. According to him, “this requires thinking about health issues” because of climate change. He emphasizes that the MHE “is partly linked to climate change, since it is transmitted by midges”.