Briefing - Lumpy skin disease: From sub-Saharan origins to European outbreaks - 30-09-2025
Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a contagious, non-zoonotic viral infection affecting cattle, water buffalo and wild ruminants. It is caused by the LSD virus (LSDV) of the Capripoxvirus genus. First identified in Zambia in 1929, it became endemic in sub-Saharan Africa. It emerged in Europe in 2015, prompting mass vaccination campaigns to eradicate it by 2017. The recent outbreaks in north Africa in 2023 and in the European Union in 2025 highlight its ongoing threat. LSD is primarily transmitted by blood-feeding arthropods (e.g. mosquitoes and ticks), with symptoms including fever, skin nodules and mucosal lesions. Reduced milk production, weight loss, damage to hides, trade restrictions and costly biosecurity measures cause significant economic losses, threatening small-scale farmers and livestock industries. The virus persists in dehydrated skin lesions and vectors, complicating control. Vaccination remains critical, with homologous Neethling strain vaccines offering strong protection but sometimes associated with localised skin reactions ('the Neethling response') and vaccine virus shedding in milk and blood. The Standing Group of Experts on LSD (SGE LSD), established in 2016, fosters regional collaboration to combat the disease. Effective cross-border cooperation, timely reporting through systems like the World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS) operated by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), and implementation of emergency measures are vital to mitigating its impact. The 2025 outbreaks underscore the urgency of maintaining robust prevention and response strategies.
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP