Only if we act fast and with unity can we stop this
115 livestock farms affected across Toledo, Ciudad Real, and Albacete, with serotype 3 being the most virulent strain present in 110 of those farms. Only 10% of sheep currently vaccinated; regional government aims to protect at least 1 million heads through coordinated campaign via veterinary associations and private vets.
- 115 livestock farms infected across Toledo, Ciudad Real, and Albacete; 110 with serotype 3
- 700,000 vaccine doses purchased for €850,000, expected October 2025
- Only 10% of sheep currently vaccinated; goal is 60-70% coverage protecting 1 million animals
- €4 million in aid distributed to farms affected in 2024
Castilla-La Mancha declares health emergency due to bluetongue virus affecting livestock, purchasing 700,000 vaccine doses for €850,000 to protect sheep and other ruminants, targeting 60-70% vaccination coverage by October.
Castilla-La Mancha has declared a formal health emergency over bluetongue, a viral disease ravaging its livestock herds. The regional government announced it will spend 850,000 euros to purchase 700,000 vaccine doses, targeting the serotype 3 strain—the most aggressive and widespread variant circulating through the region's sheep and cattle populations.
The declaration came from Julián Martínez Lizán, the regional agriculture minister, who laid out the scope of the crisis in a press conference. Across three provinces—Toledo, Ciudad Real, and Albacete—115 livestock farms have reported infections. Of those, 110 are dealing specifically with serotype 3. The numbers are stark enough that the regional government decided it could not wait for a coordinated national response. It is moving forward alone, using its own budget to fund what amounts to a massive vaccination push.
The vaccines are expected to arrive in early October, and once they do, the campaign will begin in earnest. The plan is to distribute doses through both official veterinary associations and private practitioners, with the goal of reaching between 60 and 70 percent of the region's ruminant population. That target translates to protecting at least one million animals. Right now, only about 10 percent of the sheep in Castilla-La Mancha have been vaccinated against serotype 3—roughly 240,000 to 250,000 animals. The gap is enormous.
The regional government has also committed to compensating farmers who vaccinated their herds voluntarily before the emergency was declared. Martínez Lizán framed this as a matter of fairness. Those early adopters, he argued, acted as a "containment barrier" against the disease's spread, and they deserve recognition for bearing the cost themselves. The region is also distributing four million euros in aid to farms that suffered losses in 2024, particularly those forced to restrict livestock movement due to infection.
But beneath the emergency measures lies a deeper frustration. Martínez Lizán used his announcement to criticize the absence of a mandatory national vaccination strategy. Last year, he said, the national agriculture ministry chose a voluntary approach—pressured, in his view, by other regions and industry groups—and that laxity allowed the virus to spread unchecked. Castilla-La Mancha is now acting unilaterally, as are neighboring regions that have activated similar emergency protocols. The message was clear: speed and coordination matter, and waiting for consensus at the national level has already cost the livestock sector dearly.
Citas Notables
The objective is to reach 60-70% vaccination coverage to guarantee effective herd immunity— Julián Martínez Lizán, regional agriculture minister
Early vaccination by farmers served as a containment barrier against the disease and deserves recognition as a matter of justice— Julián Martínez Lizán
La Conversación del Hearth Otra perspectiva de la historia
Why did the region wait until now to declare an emergency? Weren't there warning signs earlier?
There were. Farms were getting infected, some were vaccinating on their own dime. But the national government had chosen a voluntary approach, so there was no unified trigger. Castilla-La Mancha finally moved when the numbers became undeniable—115 farms, mostly with the worst strain.
What happens to a farmer whose sheep get bluetongue?
Movement restrictions, first. You can't move animals off your land. That means lost sales, lost breeding opportunities, lost income. And the disease itself kills or weakens animals. Some farmers vaccinated early to avoid that. Now the region is saying it will help pay them back.
Is 700,000 doses enough?
It's a start. The goal is to vaccinate at least a million animals by reaching 60 to 70 percent coverage. Right now only 10 percent are protected. So they're trying to close a massive gap in a few months.
Why does the minister blame the national government?
Because a mandatory national strategy would have forced vaccination everywhere at once. Instead, voluntary meant some regions acted, others didn't. The virus spread in the gaps. He's saying that hesitation cost them.
What happens if the October vaccines don't arrive on time?
The disease keeps spreading. Every week of delay means more farms infected, more animals lost. That's why he kept saying speed matters.