Cattle in France hit by bluetongue epidemic

A new strain of bluetongue, a potentially fatal disease for sheep and cattle, has been detected across Europe after first exploding in Dutch farms.

Transcript

00:00The department of Isère in France is being affected by an epidemic of a new variant of

00:06blue tongue.

00:07An outbreak of 31 cases has so far been confirmed by the French government, with a further hundred

00:13or so suspected.

00:15In Polignac, sheep farmer Cédric Ruzin has already seen 55 of his 150 animals die.

00:22Unfortunately, sheep farmers say there is not much they can do for the affected sheep

00:44and vaccination is too late.

00:46The new strain is causing concern in the industry.

01:15Now sheep farmers are awaiting answers from officials on if they can get help subsidizing

01:21the vaccines.