The crisis started last week when vets from the agriculture ministry detected five cows at a Valencian farm carrying antibodies for ‘blue tongue’ disease.
Other cases had been reported in Andalucía the previous week.
Acting swiftly on the advice of animal experts, the Valencia government imposed a state of emergency to hunt for more infected animals.
Initial enquiries indicated there were only the five cases in the Valencia farm. The animals - which had come from Cádiz - were immediately slaughtered.
The Generalitat ordered the immediate immobilisation of all grazing animals in the Valencia Community, with the exception of animals destined for the slaughter houses, a measure that was supported by all agrarian organisations.
The situation now appears completely under control and if new cases are not detected within the next few days, the immobilisation order could be lifted by the end of this week.
Much to the government’s relief, not a single other case of the disease has been detected so far.
Blue tongue is transmitted by the female mosquito (culicoides imnicola variety) when it bites a grazing animal. Its presence has not been detected in the Valencia Community and scientists remain optimistic.
Humans are immune
Blue tongue is a disease that only affects ruminant animals - especially sheep - and humans are completely immune to the disease.
The illness produces feverish symptoms with inflammation in the respiratory and digestive mucous membranes, as well as inflammation in the sensitive areas of the hooves.
These unpleasant symptoms are accompanied by muscular degeneration and in female animals it causes placentitis, abortions and congenital malformations if the animal is pregnant.
The surface of the tongue and the gums also becomes covered in ulcers. During this phase, the tongue turns blue, which gives the illness its name. Vomiting commonly occurs and the animal can die of pneumonia.
In cows the incidence is much more scarce and once affected, the level of death is not usually more than five per cent. Most commonly affected by the disease are sheep, and in some extreme cases, 80% of the flock can die.
To prevent blue tongue, vets advise eliminating parasites from farms than can act as transmitters of the disease. Insecticides, larvicides and insect repellents can be used.

• Blue tongue is a seasonal disease and cases generally appear between the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. Slaughtering the affected animals is the usual way to control the disease, as there isn’t yet a known vaccine.

• Other countries affected by the illness include Algeria, Tunisia, Italy, Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey

Symptoms

Increases salivation and breath becomes foul

Cows can abort if they are pregnant and can give birth to deformed calves

Inflammation of udders and sores