Bovine Dermatitis, High Alert: "Total Blockade Could Revert"

The alarm for bovine dermatitis – after the first outbreaks recorded in Orani and Orotelli and the suspected cases reported in Osidda and Nuoro – is starting to shake the peninsula too. The alert, in fact, has also been triggered in the Mantua area.

"The next seven days will be decisive - explains Francesco Sgarangella , director of the Department of Veterinary Prevention of Northern Sardinia - because we need to understand the extent of the phenomenon and, in light of this, we will decide on movements outside the region as well."

Sgarangella is one of the leading experts in the management of veterinary epidemic emergencies. Formerly a professor of Public Health at the University of Sassari, he is currently the sole coordinator of the Veterinary Services of the Region for the eradication of African swine fever.

There are confirmed and suspected outbreaks. What can happen in a week?

"We don't know, it's a new disease and viruses behave differently from one territory to another. As the checks proceed, we will decide which prudential rules to maintain."

Will sheep, goats, pigs and horses be free again?

«Yes. The Ministry's indications say that since cattle are a species susceptible to the disease, in the protection and surveillance zones the restrictions will concern these, not other animals. Cattle, and sheep that graze together with cattle: they could carry around infected ticks».

What do you mean by restrictions?

«That, if conditions allow it and for this, I repeat, we must wait for the deadline set to have an overview of the situation, there should not be an absolute block, but rather the possibility of moving the animals, selling and exporting after a PCR test (detects the possible presence of an infectious agent in the blood, ed. ). It has been done for other diseases, for example blue tongue».