Spain bans live cattle exports over lumpy skin disease outbreak

MADRID (Reuters) -Spain has imposed a temporary ban on exports of live cattle following an outbreak of the highly-contagious lumpy skin disease, Agriculture Minister Luis Planas told reporters on Tuesday.

Lumpy skin disease is a virus spread by insects that affects cattle and buffalo, causing blisters and reducing milk production. It does not pose a risk to humans but often leads to trade restrictions and severe economic losses.

"We have temporarily suspended exports of live animals to prevent the spread of the disease; France has done the same," Planas said.

France imposed a similar ban on cattle exports and events such as bullfighting on Friday.

The Spanish outbreak was detected on a farm with 123 dairy heifers near Girona in the northeast, after three animals showed symptoms on October 1.

(Reporting by Emma Pinedo and David Latona; Editing by Andrei Khalip)