Lumpy Skin Disease Spreads Across Europe: October 2025 Update

Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD), a viral infection affecting cattle and water buffalo, has made a significant resurgence in Europe over the past few weeks, prompting emergency measures across several countries and raising alarms within the livestock and dairy sectors.

Current Outbreaks and Spread

• Spain confirmed its first outbreak on October 1 in Catalonia, near the French border. Three heifers showed symptoms, and subsequent testing confirmed LSD. Two more outbreaks followed within days, affecting over 650 cattle. Spain responded with quarantines, culling, and a vaccination campaign within a 50-kilometer radius. 
• France has reported over 80 outbreaks, with recent cases in Jura, Ain, and the Pyrenees-Orientales. The disease is believed to have spread via insect vectors and possibly through illegal animal movements.
• Italy continues to report cases, particularly in Sardinia, where the virus was first detected in June.

Government Responses and Trade Impacts

• France imposed a nationwide ban on cattle exports and events like bullfighting from October 18 to November 4. The agriculture ministry cited the risk of further spread and the need to protect the national herd. 
• Spain suspended live cattle exports to Morocco and other destinations, aiming to contain the outbreak and prevent cross-border transmission. 
• The UK and Philippines have implemented import restrictions on Spanish bovine products, including live animals, semen, embryos, and untreated hides. 

Economic and Dairy Sector Risks

LSD poses no threat to humans but has severe implications for cattle health and productivity:

• Milk yields can drop by up to 30% in affected herds.
• Infected animals suffer from fever, skin nodules, infertility, and hide damage.
• Trade bans and movement restrictions are causing economic strain, especially in regions reliant on cattle exports. 

Control Measures and Outlook

Authorities across Europe have launched mass vaccination campaigns, established protection and surveillance zones, and intensified vector control efforts. The European Commission has also issued emergency measures to contain the outbreaks. 

Despite these efforts, the disease’s rapid spread underscores vulnerabilities in Europe’s biosecurity framework. Experts warn that unless containment is successful, LSD could become endemic in Western Europe, threatening long-term livestock productivity and trade.