Spanish authorities have initiated the culling of more than 120 cattle in the northeastern region of Catalonia after detecting the country’s first-ever outbreak of lumpy skin disease. The highly contagious viral infection was identified on a dairy farm in Girona province, near the French border, after several animals exhibited symptoms. Officials have implemented strict containment protocols, including establishing a wide surveillance zone and restricting animal movement, to prevent the disease from spreading further within the nation’s significant livestock sector.
The outbreak represents a serious economic threat to farmers, though it poses no risk to human health. Lumpy skin disease, which is endemic in Africa and has recently appeared in other European countries, can cause significant production losses through decreased milk yield, weight loss, and permanent damage to hides. In response, the Catalan Agriculture Department has established a 50-kilometer surveillance area around the affected farm, is conducting exhaustive controls on approximately 800 nearby farms, and will begin vaccinating cattle to create a protective buffer against the virus. Farmers whose animals are culled will receive financial compensation.
Details of the Catalonia Outbreak
The first case in Spain was confirmed on a farm in the Alt Empordà area of Girona, where three dairy heifers showed clinical signs of the disease on October 1. This led to the immediate decision to cull the entire herd of 123 animals to contain the virus. Two additional farms linked to the primary site, involving over 1,200 more animals, are currently under investigation.
In response to the detection, authorities have implemented a multi-tiered biosecurity zone. A strict 20-kilometer protection zone is in place around the farm, with a broader 50-kilometer surveillance zone beyond that. Within this larger area, animal movements are heavily restricted, and health inspections are scheduled to occur every 48 to 72 hours to monitor for new cases. These measures are critical for preventing the insect-borne virus from establishing a foothold in the region. Farmers in the area are on high alert and have started implementing extra biosecurity measures on their properties to protect their herds.
Understanding Lumpy Skin Disease
Cause and Transmission
Lumpy skin disease is caused by the Neethling virus, a member of the Capripoxvirus genus within the Poxviridae family. It primarily affects cattle and water buffalo. The virus is not considered a direct threat to humans, and meat and milk from infected animals are safe for consumption. Transmission occurs predominantly through biting insects such as mosquitoes, ticks, and certain types of flies, which act as mechanical vectors. These insects carry the virus from infected to susceptible animals. While direct contact between animals plays a minor role, the virus is highly stable and can be found in skin nodules, scabs, saliva, nasal discharge, and semen, potentially spreading through contaminated equipment, feed, or water.
Clinical Signs in Cattle
The disease is characterized by a sudden onset of fever, which can exceed 41°C (106°F) and last for about a week. Shortly after, animals develop firm, raised nodules on the skin, typically 2 to 5 centimeters in diameter. These lumps can appear all over the body but are most common on the head, neck, udder, and perineum. The nodules affect the full thickness of the skin and may become necrotic, leaving deep ulcers that are vulnerable to secondary bacterial infections. Other symptoms include swollen lymph nodes, nasal and eye discharge, loss of appetite, and a significant drop in milk production. While morbidity rates can be high, mortality is generally low, around 1-5%, though it can be higher in severe outbreaks.
Economic and Agricultural Consequences
The primary impact of lumpy skin disease is economic. Outbreaks trigger substantial financial losses for the cattle industry through both direct and indirect costs. Direct losses result from reduced milk production, decreased weight gain, abortions, infertility, and damage to hides that renders them commercially worthless. The cost of veterinary care and treatment for secondary infections also adds to the financial burden on farmers.
Indirect losses are often more severe and widespread. The presence of the disease leads to immediate trade restrictions on live cattle and animal products, cutting off access to valuable export markets. The implementation of control measures, including quarantines, movement bans, and extensive surveillance programs, disrupts the entire livestock supply chain. The cost of culling and compensating farmers for their lost animals represents another significant expense for governments and agricultural bodies.
Disease Containment Strategies
Movement Controls and Biosecurity
The cornerstone of controlling a lumpy skin disease outbreak is restricting the movement of susceptible animals to prevent further spread. Establishing quarantine zones around infected premises is the first critical step taken by veterinary authorities. Strict biosecurity measures on farms are essential, including isolating new animals for at least 28 days before introducing them to a herd. Because the virus can survive for long periods in scabs and other organic material, thorough cleaning and disinfection of premises, vehicles, and equipment are necessary to eliminate environmental contamination. Controlling insect populations through insecticides and managing breeding sites like standing water can also help reduce the risk of transmission, though it cannot stop an outbreak alone.
Vaccination Campaigns
Vaccination is recognized as the most effective tool for the prevention and control of lumpy skin disease. In response to the outbreak, Catalan authorities announced they will begin vaccinating cattle in the affected region, a strategy that was initially questioned but is now seen as essential. Live attenuated vaccines, typically using a Neethling-like strain of the virus, provide strong immunity. Widespread, prophylactic vaccination campaigns are recommended in at-risk regions to build herd immunity before the disease arrives. In the event of an outbreak, ring vaccination—immunizing all susceptible animals in a designated radius around the infected zone—is used to create a buffer and halt the virus’s advance.
A Wider European Context
Lumpy skin disease was first identified in Zambia in 1929 and was largely confined to Africa for decades. However, it has spread significantly in recent years, moving through the Middle East and into Europe. The disease first entered the European Union in 2015 in Greece and subsequently spread through the Balkans, prompting massive, coordinated vaccination campaigns that successfully controlled it by 2018.
The virus has re-emerged more recently. Before the detection in Spain, Italy and France had already reported dozens of outbreaks in 2025. This recent spread highlights the persistent threat the virus poses to all of Europe. The interconnectedness of animal trade and the ability of insect vectors to travel across borders make international cooperation and rapid, transparent reporting through bodies like the World Organisation for Animal Health essential for monitoring and controlling the disease.