Concerns have been raised in a question submitted by Chega deputies Pedro Pinto, Marta Martins da Silva, João Paulo Graça, João Lopes Aleixo, Ana Martins, and Ricardo Moreira to the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, José Manuel Fernandes.
In the inquiry, reviewed today by Lusa on the parliament’s website, the parliamentarians noted that several serotypes of the disease have been identified in mainland Portugal in recent years, necessitating control measures.
“However, the disease is causing serious damage in areas not affected last year, with mortality three times higher than expected for this time of year,” they emphasize.
In recent months, the signatories reported, “there has been a continuous increase in sheep mortality in the Alentejo, particularly in the Campo Branco region,” which includes the municipalities of Castro Verde, Almodôvar, Ourique, and part of Aljustrel, all in the Beja district.
Despite the administration of vaccines, “the results did not meet expectations,” they stress, indicating that “the outbreak now affects more than 240 farms across the municipalities of Castro Verde, Almodôvar, Ourique, and Aljustrel.”
Highlighting an estimate that currently “thousands of animals are infected with serotype 3 of the virus,” the deputies note that “sheep farmers are requesting government support for affected livestock farms.”
Through the question, Chega urges the government for an updated assessment of the epidemiological situation of bluetongue in the country, including actual mortality, the number of affected farms, and the distribution of circulating serotypes.
The parliamentarians also inquire about the measures implemented to ensure that vaccines achieve adequate efficacy and coverage, and the steps taken to secure the availability of vaccines against the circulating serotypes.
“Is the government willing to immediately adopt a compensation mechanism for the death of sheep caused by the disease?” is another question directed at Minister José Manuel Fernandes.
Last November, PS deputy elected in Beja, Pedro do Carmo, requested government support for the region’s sheep producers whose farms were affected by the bluetongue virus.
In recent months, many farms in the Beja district have been affected by the bluetongue virus, prompting the Federation of Farmers’ Associations of Baixo Alentejo (FAABA) to send a letter to the Minister of Agriculture and Sea at the end of October, demanding support measures for the sector.
Bluetongue, a mandatory notifiable viral disease, affects ruminants and is not transmissible to humans.
