France curbs cattle disease with mass vaccinations Lumpy skin outbreak slows after 220,000 animals immunized1 September 2025 1 September 2025 1 minute read 1 minute read By: By: Global Ag Media EuropeFrance has reported a sharp decline in outbreaks of an illness in cows called lumpy skin disease, with no new cases since August 22, after launching a mass vaccination campaign around the outbreaks, Reuters reported, citing the agriculture ministry. Lumpy skin disease, a viral disease transmitted by insect bites, causes blisters and lowers milk production in cattle. The number of new outbreaks in France fell from around 10 per week in July and early August to just two per week recently, ministry officials said. France's national cattle herd numbers about 17 million, the largest in the European Union. Britain and other countries have banned imports of raw milk cheese from France due to the outbreaks, French dairy producers said.