A vaccination campaign launched on July 19 has so far covered around 100,000 cows in four Alpine departments, including Savoie and Haute-Savoie, where the outbreaks were detected, it said. Lumpy skin disease, a viral illness transmitted by insect bites, causes blisters and lowers milk production in cattle. A stage of the Tour de France cycling race was shortened last week after an outbreak along the planned route led to cattle culls and restricted access. Britain and other countries have banned imports of raw milk cheese from France due to the recent outbreaks, French dairy producers said. Lumpy skin disease is widespread in North Africa and was also detected in Italy in late June.