Lumpy skin disease is a viral disease of cattle, transmitted by blood-feeding insects. The disease causes considerable economic losses mainly due to cattle hide damage, infertility, loss of weight and milk yield, trade restrictions.
In 2015 the disease was recorded for the first time in Southeast Europe, affecting also two EU countries.
The EU has co-funded the mass vaccination of cattle in affected EU and neighbouring countries in the Balkans. This has halted the further westward spread of the disease and contributed to its elimination in affected countries. However, the circulation of lumpy skin disease virus in some of the neighbouring non-EU countries increases the risk of its reappearance in the EU. For this reason, it is necessary to maintain and raise awareness of lumpy skin disease risks and its prevention, and to increase the capacity for early detection and effective elimination of new diease outbreaks.
In 2023 and 2024, the Commission has awarded €0.3 million and €0.074 million, respectively, to two EU countries to contribute to lumpy skin disease awareness and early detection of outbreaks in the EU.