Calabria Region in support of breeders: measures and actions defined to contain the bluetongue epidemic.

The Calabria Region is taking action, alongside Calabrian farmers, to limit the consequences of the bluetongue epidemic.

The measures and actions useful for dealing with the emergency, which currently concerns in particular the Crotone, were defined and made operational during the meeting held on Thursday afternoon in Cittadella, on the initiative of the Regional Councillor for Agriculture, Gianluca Gallo, with the general directors of the Departments of Agriculture and Health present, respectively Joseph Iiritano e Thomas Calabro, and with them the commissioner of the ASP of Crotone, Antonio Brambilla.

The examination of the situation, which is also affecting other areas of Italy and is also the subject of attention by the Government, was followed by the launch of a series of activities aimed at stop the spread of the contagion and from reconstitute the livestock heritage, strongly marked by the progression of the disease.

At the top of the list are the targeted health interventions that will be implemented in the next few hours by the Veterinary Service of the ASP, in collaboration with the Departments of Agriculture and Health and the Regional Association of Breeders.

At the same time, the necessary procedures will be implemented to ensure that, through a specific resolution of the regional council, to be adopted shortly, the resources needed to allow breeders to proceed with pest control activities even inside the sheepfolds, as well as ensuring compensation for lost animals.

Furthermore: while the ASP will proceed with the purchase and administration of vaccines intended to slow down, in a preventive manner, the spread of the epidemic, the preparatory procedures for the declaration of health emergency, to give substance and concreteness, in the shortest time possible, to the reconstitution of the livestock heritage.