Germany moves to vaccinate farm animals against bluetongue

German officials said Monday they were bulldozing through plans to inoculate farm animals against bluetongue disease, which is common in Mediterranean countries and has been spreading north.

The central state of Hesse has placed a binding order for 21 million vaccination doses to be distributed to all 16 states, without waiting for federal regulatory approval for the substance.

Hesse will pay about 17 million euros to the three manufacturers, the state environment minister, Wilhelm Dietzel, said in Wiesbaden.