France Launches Massive Cattle Vaccination Campaign Against DNC
Savoy, France – June 29, 2025 – In a swift and decisive move to combat the epizootic disease, France has ordered the maximum available doses of vaccine, less then 48 hours after the first confirmed DNC case in Savoy. The vaccination campaign, set to begin promptly and scale up next week, aims to protect all cattle within a 50-kilometer radius of the affected area, encompassing the departments of Savoie, Haute-Savoie, Ain, and Isère.
the vaccine doses, secured through the European Commission, are now being distributed to facilitate the rapid launch of this critical public health initiative. The comprehensive vaccination strategy was formally presented to all relevant health stakeholders during an emergency meeting of the National Orientation Committee for Animal and Plant Health Policy (CNOPSAV),chaired by Annie Genevard,Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty,on July 16.
This mandatory vaccination program will cover approximately 285,000 cattle of all ages within the designated regulated zones, including protective and surveillance areas. The state will fully cover the costs associated with the vaccination of cattle in these regions.
The campaign will commence with a 20-kilometer perimeter around the confirmed DNC cases.Vaccinations will be administered both towards the center of the protective area to curb disease spread from the initial sites and outwards into the surveillance area to establish a protective barrier. A secondary vaccination line will also be deployed for farms situated close to the affected households.
This rapid and extensive vaccination effort,coupled with existing measures such as the depopulation of infected herds,movement restrictions,and strict biosecurity protocols,is designed to achieve the complete eradication of the DNC. The disease poses important threats to cattle health and welfare, leading to considerable economic losses in milk production, meat, and the genetic value of livestock.
The vaccine, administered as a single dose, provides complete protection to animals 21 days post-injection. The effective rollout of this vaccination campaign marks a crucial step in France’s strategy to combat the DNC.
Minister Genevard has urged all stakeholders to mobilize for the efficient and swift implementation of this vital DNC vaccination campaign,expressing deep gratitude to veterinarians for their unwavering commitment and collaboration with state services,agricultural,and health actors in managing this crisis.She highlighted their continuous monitoring of herds and their crucial role in the vaccination process alongside breeders.
