Skip to main content
European Commission logo
en
Food, Farming, Fisheries
Food Safety

Infection with lumpy skin disease virus (LSD)

What is Infection with Lumpy Skin Disease?

Infection with lumpy skin disease (LSD) virus is an infectious viral disease of bovine animals caused by a Capripoxvirus of the Poxviridae family. It is mainly transmitted by biting insects and is characterised by fever, painful nodules on the skin, mucous membranes and internal organs, enlarged lymph nodes, oedema of the skin, and sometimes death. LSD can cause significant economic losses for farmers due to temporary reduction in milk production, weight loss, damage to hides and reproductive impairment. LSD does not affect humans.

LSD virus is a stable virus, survives well in the environment but is sensitive to most disinfectants.

Under EU legislation, the following species are listed for LSD: Bison ssp., Bos ssp., Bubalus ssp.

LSD is classified as a Category A disease under the Animal Health Law (Regulation (EU) 2016/429), which means it does not normally occur in the Union and requires immediate eradication when detected.

Transmission:

Transmission of LSD virus (LSDV) is thought to be predominantly by arthropods (wide range of blood-feeding insects, such as certain species of flies and mosquitoes, or ticks). Direct contact with an infected animal is considered to play a minor role in the transmission of the virus.

The possibility of transmission via fomites, such as through ingestion of feed and water contaminated with infected saliva, has not been confirmed. However, the emergence of new strains indicates that multiple transmission routes cannot be excluded.

Infected bulls have been shown to shed the virus in their semen, and transmission of LSD via infected semen has been experimentally demonstrated. Additionally, there is a single report suggesting the possibility of placental transmission of LSD. It is also known that LSDV can be shed in milk, by which the virus can be transmitted to suckling calves.

Current Situation

The disease historically mainly occurred in sub-Saharan Africa but is now widespread in both Africa and Asia.

Since 2012 it has spread rapidly through the Middle East, south-east Europe and West and Central Asia, and further into Asia.

In 2015, Lumpy Skin Disease spread across South-East Europe affecting Greece, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Albania, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo. The outbreaks were successfully controlled and eradicated through mass vaccination campaigns in affected countries, with the last reported cases in 2017.

Since 2023, LSD emerged in North Africa (in Libya, then Algeria and Tunisia). In 2025, new LSD outbreaks were detected within the European Union, initially in Italy, followed by outbreaks reported in France and Spain.

Italy

On 21 June 2025, Italy confirmed the first outbreak of Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) in an extensive cattle holding in Orani, Sardinia, followed by a secondary outbreak in Porto Mantovano (Lombardia), confirmed on 25 June. All affected animals were culled, safely disposed of, and the establishments cleaned and disinfected in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687.

Phylogenetic analysis conducted by the European Union Reference Laboratory (EURL) indicated a genetic link between the LSD virus detected in Italy and the Nigeria 2018 strain.

In response, the Commission adopted Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1318 on the basis of Regulation (EU) 2016/429, establishing restricted zones in Italy, where the measures laid down in the Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 re applied. .

Following further confirmed outbreaks in Sardinia and the submission by Italy of a vaccination plan, the Commission revised the emergency measures in Italy adopting Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1582 of 29 July 2025 concerning certain emergency measures relating to infection with lumpy skin disease virus in Italy and repealing Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1318.

Italy implemented emergency protective vaccination in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2023/361 targeting 300,000 domestic bovines across the entire Sardinia region, using the OBP Neethling strain vaccine supplied from the EU LSD vaccine bank.

Following the confirmation of LSD outbreaks in the Departments of Savoie and Haute-Savoie (as of 22 July 2025), France, the vaccination was extended to Valle d’Aosta region, covering approximately 40,000 domestic bovines

As of 4 November 2025, vaccination is completed in Valle d’Aosta and nearly finished in Sardinia. The disease remains contained within the restricted zone in Sardinia.

France

On 29 June 2025, France notified the first outbreak of lumpy skin disease in a dairy cattle establishment in the commune of Chambéry, Savoie, region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes after observing clinical signs in several animals, including nodules, fever, swelling, and milk production drop. All affected animals were culled, safely disposed of, and the establishments cleaned and disinfected in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687.

In order to address this outbreak of lumpy skin disease, the Commission adopted Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1336 on the basis of Regulation (EU) 2016/429, and it lays down certain interim emergency measures relating to infection with lumpy skin disease virus in France. More particularly, it requires the establishment of restricted zones in the sense of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 in that Member State, and determines the areas listed in the respective Annex as such zones.

Following further confirmed outbreaks in Region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and the submission by France of a vaccination plan, the Commission revised the safeguard measures in France adopting Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1708 of 29 July 2025 concerning certain emergency measures relating to infection with lumpy skin disease virus in France and repealing Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1336.

To contain the outbreaks, France launched emergency protective vaccination in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2023/361 targeting around 350,000 domestic bovines across the restricted zone in the Region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, using the OBP Neethling strain vaccine supplied from the EU LSD vaccine bank

As the disease evolved, vaccination was gradually extended to the new restricted zones in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté and Occitanie regions, while preventive vaccination was carried out in Corsica due to its proximity to Sardinia.

More information can be found on the national webpage of the French Competent Authority.

Spain

On 4 October 2025, Spain reported its first outbreak of LSD on a breeding farm in Catalunya, near the French border. The affected animals were culled, and control zones were established in line with Regulation (EU) 2016/429 and Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687.

To prevent further spread, preventive emergency vaccination was launched in the Catalunya and Aragón regions, starting with OBP Neethling vaccine supplied from the EU LSD vaccine bank.

In response to the initial outbreaks of Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) in Italy and France the Commission promptly deployed the EU Veterinary Emergency Team to support to the competent authorities. Information on these visits and updates from the Member State updates is available on the the "Animal Health and Welfare regulatory committee (the meetings of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed)" page.

The Commission continues to closely monitor the situation and may adopt additional emergency measures to support eradication and prevent further spread.

For the current situation and epidemiological information gathered through the EU Animal Disease Information System (ADIS), please see the "Notification System" page.

Prevention and Control Measures

Regulation (EU) 2016/429 (“Animal Health Law”, AHL) lays down rules for the prevention and control of animal diseases which are transmissible to animals or to humans, including rules on disease awareness, preparedness and control.

Regulation (EU) 2016/429 also provides that for "category A" diseases, specific rules apply to species and groups of animal species that pose a considerable risk for the spread of specific diseases and which are listed as such in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882.

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2002 of 7 December 2020 laying down rules for the application of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to Union notification and Union reporting of listed diseases, to formats and procedures for submission and reporting of Union surveillance programmes and of eradication programmes and for application for recognition of disease-free status, and to the computerised information system.

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 of 17 December 2019 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and the Council, as regards rules for the prevention and control of certain listed diseases, supplements the rules on disease awareness, preparedness and control to be applied with regard to the listed diseases referred to in Article 9(1)(a), (b) and (c) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429.

Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/361 lays down specific rules to be implemented by Member States when using vaccination to prevent or control LSD and sets the conditions that enable movement of vaccinated animals and their products.

Specific control measures

Please see the additional emergency measures enforced by the European Commission in response to the evolution of the disease in affected countries.

EU support for LSD surveillance activities

The European Commission provides financial support for the surveillance and early detection of certain diseases of animals, including lumpy skin disease, in high risk areas, through the Transboundary Animal Diseases (TADs) programmes (implemented in Greece, Bulgaria) and the T.H.R.A.C.E programme (= Trans-boundary High Risk Area Coordinated Epidemio-surveillance programme) in place since 2013 (Greece, Bulgaria, Turkiye) coordinated by the European Commission for the Control of Foot-and–Mouth Disease (EuFMD).

EU antigen, vaccine and diagnostic reagent banks

Vaccines against LSD exist and vaccination is essential for controlling LSD. Several LSD vaccines (homologous or heterologous attenuated virus vaccines) are commercially available. The live attenuated homologous vaccines based on the Neethling strain provide strong protection and have been proven as highly effective in large-scale, coordinated cross-border vaccination campaigns, helping to eliminate the disease in affected countries in south-east Europe and the Balkans in the epidemic of 2015-2017.

The EU antigen, vaccine, and diagnostic reagent banks under the Animal Health Law play a key role in supporting Member States or, when primarily intended to prevent the spread of a disease into the Union, third countries during the early stages of a vaccination campaign against certain Category A diseases such as Lumpy skin disease.

The EU banks ensure the availability and strategic management of essential biological materials, including specific types and strains of antigens, vaccines, and diagnostic reagents. Provisions for the management, storage, and replenishment of these stocks, along with strict biosecurity, biosafety, and biocontainment requirements, are set out in the following Regulations:

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/139 of 16 November 2021 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the management, storage and replacement of stocks of the Union antigen, vaccine and diagnostic reagent banks and the biosecurity, biosafety and bio-containment requirements for the operation of those banks;

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/140 of 16 November 2021 laying down rules for the application of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to the Union antigen, vaccine and diagnostic reagent banks.

These Regulations also define the conditions for access to the Union banks, and the relationship with national antigen, vaccine, and diagnostic reagent banks.

EFSA scientific advice

LSD Diagnostics

Relevant information can be found on the website of SCIENSANO, European Union Reference Laboratory (EURL) for Capripox viruses.