the Minister of Agriculture promises to “take charge of additional veterinary costs”

MHE, this epizootic hemorrhagic disease which attacks herds of cows, has been known in the United States since the 1950s, but has just appeared in France, after having affected Spain a year ago. The Ministry of Agriculture promises to take “in charge of additional veterinary costs” concerning epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EMD) which affects cattle and deer in French farms, mainly in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques and Hautes-Pyrénées, assures Wednesday November 15 on franceinfo Marc Fesneau.

France currently has more than 2,100 MHE homes across the country. In most cases, the animals suffer from fever and weight loss, but do not die. Marc Fesneau recognizes despite everything, “that there is still a mortality rate”. The ministry therefore promises to support breeders and “to take care of the cattle that will die, but also the additional veterinary costs”.

“A resurgence” to fear in spring

While traveling, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, he was able to see “a cow which had lost 200 kilos in a month and which still had difficulty standing on its feet” and he recognizes that “This is a loss which, in the long term, can be very heavy for the breeder.” Thus, the Minister of Agriculture does not wish to see this additional veterinary cost attributed “mainly the responsibility of breeders”.

Marc Fesneau also warns that if a period of calm is expected in the coming weeks, “a resurgence” is to be feared in spring, with the midges vectors of MHE which need mild temperatures to develop. “This is what we need to prepare for and overall we need to prepare for a health system that will be in high demand”says the minister. “It’s a dramatic subject for some breeders,” he admits. This viral disease is not transmissible to humans.