Given the current health situation in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques region, a emergency The rapid spread of bovine diseases is posing a serious threat to local livestock farms. In order to protect animal health and preserve the region's agricultural economy, a vast campaign of vaccination is launched, mobilising hundreds of professionals and fully supported by the State. The aim of this operation is to effectively contain the health threat caused mainly by lumpy skin disease (LDS), which is renowned for its devastating effects on cattle herds. In 2025, this unprecedented mobilisation reflects a rapid, coordinated response in which the prevention is becoming the key pillar in the fight against these diseases.
The Pyrénées-Atlantiques region, in the heart of south-western France, has seen its cattle herds exposed to major risks for several years, with outbreaks detected nearby, particularly in the Hautes-Pyrénées. In this critical situation, vaccination has become the best way of stemming the flow of the virus and ensuring the survival of the herd. animal protection robust. The rapid deployment of doses, the meticulous organisation of teams on the ground and strict compliance with health regulations are all hallmarks of this collective obligation in the face of a health threat unique. This article sets out in detail the issues involved, the operational mechanism and the outlook for this major campaign in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques in 2025.
The crucial importance of vaccinating cattle in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques region against bovine diseases
The proliferation of epizootic diseases such as lumpy skin disease and bluetongue (FCO) since 2023 has caused major disruption to cattle farms in the South-West. The Pyrénées-Atlantiques region has been particularly hard hit, requiring an immediate response to avoid irreversible losses. Vaccination is therefore the essential tool for preserving the health of the livestock. animal health.
This approach is based on a better understanding of diseases. For example, lumpy skin disease, transmitted by direct contact or via vectors such as flies, can cause severe skin lesions, lethargy and even death in cattle. The rapid spread of the disease, coupled with necessary but insufficient biosecurity measures, has encouraged a massive deployment of vaccines to counter the epidemic. Each vaccinated farm not only reduces its own risk, but also contributes to the collective immunity of the region, curbing the circulation of the virus.
The current campaign aims to cover 200,000 cattle in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, on around 4,300 farms. This extensive coverage is essential to create an epidemiological barrier and ensure long-term protection. The necessary doses will be supplied rapidly, enabling full vaccination to be achieved within a month, with immunity acquired within 21 days of injection.
One of the vets involved in this mission, Stéphane Tisserand, emphasised that «vaccination is the most effective solution for avoiding mass culls and protecting both livestock farming and the quality of meat and milk». This rapid response, combined with a major mobilisation, demonstrates that prevention can be synonymous with survival for the cattle industry.
Another strong point of this strategy is that the operation is fully funded by the State, encouraging farmers to participate without any financial constraints. This funding also ensures that the vaccine administration protocols are consistent and uniform throughout the area concerned. So, as well as providing immediate protection, this is a new stage in the management of the disease. bovine diseases with promising prospects for the long-term future of farms and the preservation of the rural economic fabric.
Organisation and logistics of an exceptional cattle vaccination campaign in Pyrénées-Atlantiques
If this campaign is to be a success, it will have to be a logistical and health operation in which everyone involved is mobilised to ensure complete and rapid coverage. The challenge is all the more crucial in that the health threat requires mass vaccination to be carried out in a very short space of time.
On the ground, more than 150 veterinary professionals, backed up by 47 army veterinary soldiers, retired vets and veterinary students, are carrying out the vaccinations. The strategy adopted is based around a number of priority areas, in particular the 129 communes in eastern Béarn, close to the initial outbreak in the Hautes-Pyrénées.
Each team of 4 people can vaccinate between 300 and 500 cattle a day, a sustained pace that requires unfailing organisational rigour. The department's prefect says that this health drive will continue «even during the end-of-year holidays», underlining the urgency and collective determination.
Farms are targeted according to a number of strategic criteria:
- 📍 The geographical proximity of the infectious outbreak, with an initial radius of 50 km
- 🐄 Livestock farmers practising transhumance, exposed to an increased risk
- 🏆 Those working with vulnerable local breeds or specific genetic selections
- 📉 Farms that have already suffered losses due to dermatitis in the last four years
Health controls are strict: all livestock movements are banned for at least 28 days, and for up to 45 days in communes under increased surveillance. The gendarmerie checks compliance with these rules by means of roadside checks. Non-compliance with vaccination directly hampers the ability of farmers to move their animals, ensuring that the disease does not cross new borders.
In addition to the logistical aspect, communication was essential. Around twenty journalists were invited to Tom Marquis' family farm in Riupeyrous, where the official launch took place. The aim was twofold: to attest to the smooth running of the operations and to raise awareness of the importance of bio-sanitary rigour. For example, as soon as they enter the farm, everyone involved must pass through a foot bath and put on overshoes and gowns, to ensure that the virus does not inadvertently travel from farm to farm.
This intense programme is proof of rapid intervention necessary to stop the epidemic dead in its tracks. Mass vaccination, combined with rigorous biosecurity measures, is the cornerstone of health prevention in these emergency conditions.
The economic and social implications of compulsory vaccination of cattle in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques region
Cattle farming is a key economic pillar in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques. There are several thousand farms in the region, generating jobs and income, with meat and milk production renowned for its quality. Faced with the threat of epizootic diseases, each loss of animal or preventive slaughter has a direct impact on the farms, which are often family-run.
Compulsory vaccination is therefore much more than a health operation: it is a lever for maintaining local economic vitality. The President of the Chamber of Agriculture, Bernard Layre, insists on this reality: «Vaccinating on a massive scale, quickly and exhaustively, enables us to maintain and even develop livestock farming in our regions, which represents a real economic force». This collective commitment is all the more crucial given that lumpy skin disease can empty a herd in a matter of days, leading to dramatic situations.
For example, a local farmer recently saw his herd go from 2 cattle affected to 65 out of 85 in the space of four days. These sudden losses not only reduce operating capacity, but also affect the confidence of local and national markets in the sector. Vaccination is therefore health, economic and social insurance.
Strict health measures, including a ban on herds moving without vaccination, also promote market stability by limiting the risk of outbreaks spreading geographically. Vaccinated livestock farmers therefore benefit from better conditions for marketing their products. In addition, the campaign prevents road blockades and demonstrations linked to imposed culling decisions, calming an often tense climate between farmers and the authorities.
It should be emphasised that vaccination in no way alters the quality of the meat or milk, a reassuring point for consumers and the agri-food industry. This aspect helps to maintain a positive image of regional production on domestic and export markets.
| ⚠️ Economic impact | 🐄 Consequences for livestock farming | 🔒 Associated measures |
|---|---|---|
| Direct financial loss through slaughter | Reduced production and capacity | Compulsory vaccination at no cost to the farmer |
| Risk of social blockades and demonstrations | Stress and demoralisation among farmers | Reinforcement of health and road checks |
| Reduced buyer confidence | Impact on the commercial value of products | Raising awareness of product safety |
| Costs incurred by the State | Mobilisation of military and veterinary personnel | Rigorous communication campaign |
The role of biosecurity and prevention in controlling the spread of bovine diseases in the South West of France
In addition to vaccination, the prevention remains a fundamental element in containing the health threat over the long term. Biosecurity, i.e. all the practices designed to prevent the transmission of the virus between farms, is at the heart of this strategy.
Practices include:
- 🧴 Rigorous disinfection of agricultural machinery and equipment
- 🚪 Strict control of access to farms, with appropriate protective clothing worn.
- 🦠 Limiting contact between animals from different herds
- 🚜 The obligation to immobilise livestock for a specified period
- 📋 Ongoing training for breeders and health teams
The recent example at Riupeyrous shows just how vital it is to observe these rules. Here, the media were able to see how important it is to pass through a foot bath and then put on overshoes and gowns, to avoid any indirect contamination. Failure to comply with these measures could spread the virus despite vaccination.
In addition, quarantines and road checks are essential to limit livestock movements, which are often the source of rapid spread. The length of the movement ban, set at between 28 and 45 days depending on the area, requires a strong commitment from all those involved.
This combination of vaccines and biosecurity is an effective management model, capable of adapting to the nature and gravity of the health threats encountered. Now seriously taken into account animal protection is becoming a collective challenge, involving producers, vets, authorities and consumers in a single objective: to eradicate the disease.
Prospects and challenges for the future: towards collective immunity and sustainable breeding
Today, the vaccination campaign in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques is a determined response to a serious threat to the health of the population. health threat unprecedented. Thanks to the joint efforts of vets, the army, livestock farmers and the government, the region has the means to achieve exhaustive vaccination coverage to protect almost 750,000 cattle in the South-West.
Full immunity should be acquired by early February, paving the way for the onset of herd immunity, which will stabilise farms in the medium term. A significant reduction in cases of lumpy skin disease is expected, drastically limiting culls and economic losses.
However, a number of challenges remain. Social cohesion is being undermined by some farmers' distrust of health measures, particularly systematic culling. Road blockades and demonstrations have been observed recently. Sustaining this success will therefore require greater consultation, possible adjustments to protocols and transparent communication.
At the same time, veterinary research continues to provide solutions by improving vaccines and developing faster, more accurate detection methods. Investing in training and support for livestock farmers is also essential to strengthen the resilience of the cattle industry in the face of future threats.
To better illustrate this dynamic, here is a summary of the key stages in the fight against bovine diseases in the region:
| 📅 Key stages | 🔑 Objectives | 🎯 Expected impact |
|---|---|---|
| Discovering the home in Hautes-Pyrénées | Launching an alert and isolation | Limiting immediate spread |
| Rapid roll-out of vaccination | Immunising priority herds | Reducing the number of sick and dead |
| Reinforcement of biosafety measures | Preventing indirect transmission | Stabilising the health situation |
| Economic support for livestock farmers | Sustaining business despite the crisis | Maintaining agricultural jobs |
| Communication and awareness-raising | Involving all the players | Improving cooperation and trust |
The impact of this campaign could serve as a model for other regions facing similar challenges. Success will depend on the collective ability to combine urgency and organisation, to ensure not only the immediate survival of the herds but also the long-term future of sustainable livestock farming that respects the environment. animal health.
English 
French 
Spanish 
German 
Dutch 
Italian 
Portuguese