The Basque administrations are calling for vaccination against dermatosis to be carried out throughout the Basque Country and not only in Gipuzkoa

The Basque administrations have asked the Spanish Government to carry out vaccination against contagious nodular dermatosis throughout the Basque Country and not only in Gipuzkoa.

The Basque administrations are working in a coordinated manner to define a new vaccination framework that responds to the livestock reality of the territory and guarantees the health protection and sustainability of the sector, as reported by the Basque Government in a statement.

Contagious nodular dermatosis, a disease that seriously affects cattle, constitutes a major health and economic risk and requires proportionate and effective measures. The initial proposal of the Ministry of Agriculture proposes limiting vaccination to Gipuzkoa, excluding Bizkaia and Álava.

The presence of areas with a high livestock load, communal pastures and mountain pastures in these two territories is also of great concern to the effectiveness of the measure and the impact on the rural economy, as reported by the Basque Government.

In view of this situation, yesterday, 29 December, the Basque Government sent a letter to Minister Luis Planas calling for comprehensive vaccination throughout the CSC, stressing that the highest concentration of cattle is currently concentrated in the areas bordering the proposed area, so he explains that these areas would be excluded from vaccination, which would significantly reduce the effectiveness of the measure from a health and epidemiological point of view.

Similarly, the Government emphasizes the high interaction between Basque farms, the small size of the territory, the continuity of pasture areas between the three Historic Territories and the existence of farms operating in more than one territory, all of which make it regrettable that zoning based on the Historic Territories is not effective.

Special emphasis has also been placed on the strategic importance of the main transport infrastructures running through the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country, such as the A-1/E-5, AP-8 and A-8, "corridors with high traffic of live animals, livestock transport vehicles and technical personnel, which increases the risk of disease entering and spreading".

At the meeting of the RASVE held yesterday at noon, the Ministry proposed its inclusion only in Gipuzkoa, a decision which does not satisfy either the Basque administrations or the sector, since 'it does not correspond to the productive reality of the territory or to the management of animals'. In view of the disagreement caused by this measure, the Basque Government has begun discussions with the Ministry in order to reach an agreement that includes a more coherent zoning.

The proposal of the Basque Government would prioritise the areas with the highest livestock burden and communal pastures, and would enable a preventive and sustainable strategy "aimed at preventing the spread of the disease and ensuring the viability of the primary sector, an important economic and social pillar for the Basque Country".

Meanwhile, vaccination will begin as soon as possible in Gipuzkoa, while continuing to work on a new proposal that will extend vaccination coverage to new areas.