EU ministers push for fast-track approval of bluetongue vaccinations - report
09.25.07, 3:25 AM ET
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BRUSSELS (Thomson Financial) - European Union agricultural ministers are pushing for the European Commission to give fast-track approval of vaccinations for sheep and cattle against the bluetongue virus, which is spreading across northern Europe, the Financial Times reports.
According to the financial daily, EU ministers will discuss the outbreak tomorrow and push the commission to make a vaccine available by early next year.
Health commissioner Markos Kyprianou is expected to recommend vaccination as the best way to deal with the outbreak.
If a vaccination programme is approved, the EU will pay for the drug and half the costs of dispensing it.
Bluetongue, carried by midges, is a non-contagious, insect-transmitted, viral disease of sheep, which is not known to affect humans.
The outbreak has struck Germany, the Netherlands, France, Luxembourg, Belgium and the UK.
nina.chestney@thomson.com
nc/cm2
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Source: http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2007/09/25/afx4151629.html
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