Tunisia to pilot BCG vaccination programme against bovine tuberculosis

TUNISIA – Tunisia is preparing to launch a pilot vaccination programme against bovine tuberculosis using the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine as the government explores new measures to strengthen animal health and support the recovery of its livestock sector.

The Ministry of Agriculture announced the initiative after a July 20 meeting to review findings from a study on the effectiveness and potential risks of using the vaccine, which is widely used to prevent severe forms of tuberculosis in humans.

The pilot project will assess how well the vaccine performs under Tunisian farming conditions while evaluating its health and economic benefits before any decision is made on a wider national rollout.

In a statement, the ministry said the BCG vaccine could become an effective tool for reducing the spread of bovine tuberculosis if the trial confirms its value.

Officials stressed that vaccination would complement rather than replace existing disease control measures, which include epidemiological surveillance, biosecurity, animal movement controls and routine herd testing.

Authorities added that animals confirmed to be infected will continue to be culled in line with international disease control recommendations aimed at limiting further transmission.

Disease remains a livestock and public health concern

Bovine tuberculosis is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium bovis and primarily affects cattle, although it can also infect people through direct contact with infected animals or by consuming contaminated meat or unpasteurised milk.

According to Tunisia’s Order of Veterinary Surgeons, around 1,500 human tuberculosis cases are detected annually in the country, with almost 80% believed to be linked to animal transmission.

The disease can cause chronic illness, pneumonia, weight loss and death in infected cattle, reducing livestock productivity and affecting the supply of animal products.

In April 2026, veterinary authorities detected six cases of bovine tuberculosis in calves at a municipal slaughterhouse in Sousse, highlighting the continued circulation of the disease within the national cattle population.

The vaccination initiative follows the government’s recently launched 2026 to 2030 livestock recovery strategy, which focuses on rebuilding cattle and small ruminant herds, improving forage production, digitising livestock monitoring systems and strengthening veterinary services.

The recovery programme comes after Tunisia’s combined cattle, sheep and goat population declined from about 8.37 million head in 2016 to approximately 5.94 million head in 2022, representing a reduction of nearly 30%.

Officials believe that improving disease control will be essential to rebuilding livestock numbers, with successful vaccination potentially reducing losses associated with bovine tuberculosis by limiting the need for widespread culling of infected animals.

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