Bovine disease: first outbreak of contagious lumpy skin disease detected in France

For the first time in France, an outbreak of lumpy skin disease, a disease affecting cattle, has been identified on a farm in Savoie, the Ministry of Agriculture announced on Monday, June 30. "An outbreak of lumpy skin disease (LSD) was confirmed on June 29, 2025, for the first time in France," the Ministry of Agriculture said in a press release.

"NCD is not transmissible to humans, neither through contact with infected cattle, nor through food, nor through insect bites. There is also no risk to human health linked to the consumption of products derived from these animals," the ministry specifies.

On the other hand, "this animal disease is highly detrimental to the health of cattle and leads to significant production losses," he emphasizes. It only affects cattle , zebus and buffalo, and does not concern sheep or goats, for example, he adds.

DNC is characterized by the appearance of numerous nodules on the skin and internal mucous membranes, i.e. swellings of the infested parts of the animal's body. Highly contagious, it is transmitted by insect bites "stomoxys" (a biting fly) or "horsefly" , explains the ministry.

Present in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and, since 2023, in North Africa, it was spotted in Italy on June 22, 2025 "also for the first time, in Sardinia and then in Lombardy" .

Following the issuance of a prefectural decree, the outbreak detected on Sunday in Savoie will be "depopulated" in order to prevent the spread of DNC, "in accordance with European law which requires the eradication of this disease" , according to the ministry's press release.

Preventive measures are also being implemented within a 50 km radius of the infected farm, in the departments of Savoie, Haute-Savoie, Ain and Isère, involving increased veterinary surveillance and restrictions on the movement of cattle. "Investigations will be carried out to identify the source of the infection," the ministry reported.