France has banned cattle exports and bullfighting due to the spread of the lumpy skin disease virus.

The French Ministry of Agriculture announced on Friday that the measures will take effect on October 18 and remain in effect until November 4, with the possibility of rescinding them if the situation improves. Lumpy skin disease, spread by insects, affects cattle and buffalo, causing painful blisters and reduced milk production. Although the virus poses no threat to humans, it often leads to trade restrictions and significant economic losses, according to the ministry.REUTERS . "The recent occurrence of several isolated outbreaks—one in Aisne, three in the Jura, and three in Occitanie—is worrying and likely the result of animal movements, some of which were illegal," the ministry said.

After a decline in cases during the summer, new outbreaks emerged this month, spreading from the Alps to the Jura and Ain regions in eastern France. Three more outbreaks were detected near the Spanish border this week.

During a visit to YuraAgriculture Minister Annie Genevard warned that "the future of French livestock farming is at risk." She added: "We are at a critical moment. It is crucial to continue our efforts to protect the French cattle herd . Let us rise to the challenge together, as we have done since last June."

The virus , long endemic in Africa and the Middle East, was absent from Western Europe until mid- 2024 , when the first outbreaks occurred on the Italian island of Sardinia and then in France. Spain reported its first case last week.

Recently, cases of infection were reported in three communes in the Pyrénées-Orientales – La Bastide, Oms, and Valmania – approximately 30 kilometers from the Spanish border, prompting mandatory vaccination in nearby areas. "We can assume a link to Spain, but we are still investigating," Genever said, according to Reuters.

The French government has called the current situation a critical test for its healthcare system, emphasizing that quickly containing the spread of the virus is crucial to protect the country's meat and dairy industries from long-term disruption.