The blue tongue is frightening, throughout Sardinia - inside and out - the movement of livestock sensitive to the disease is blocked. Only garments certified negativity can be moved after the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests for serotype 3.
The decision was made this morning by the director of the Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety Service, Antonio Montisci: it is effective immediately and the provision will be valid (at least) until 13 November.
"Another heavy blow in particular in this case for the bovine sector, reservoir of the virus, and above all for the meat sector which has over 200 thousand head and exports most of the calves for fattening beyond the Sardinian borders", is the comment that arrives from Coldiretti, “It is the consequence of the umpteenth explosion from 2000 to this part of the blue tongue virus which this year is also materializing with a variant, that of serotype 3, for which there is still no vaccine”.
According to the latest update, there are 21 active outbreaks involving a total of 7,595 heads, with 167 cases, 160 of which with clinical symptoms and 57 deaths. The suspected outbreaks are instead 54 with 13,397 heads, 529 cases, 518 with clinical symptoms and 86 deaths. There are 33 extinct outbreaks with 9,208 number of animals involved, 176 cases, 14 of which with clinical symptoms and 11 deaths. For a total of 108 outbreaks, 30,200 head, 872 cases, 692 with clinical symptoms and 154 deaths. The most affected part of Sardinia is the south-western one.
In addition to sheep, cattle farms are now paying for the consequences of this new wave. They too, who are moved by the company organization, before leaving the company, throughout the region, must be subjected to the PCR and at the same time also to the administration of an insect-repellent. In case of positivity of even one garment, the handling will be blocked.
“A new blow for Sardinian animal husbandry: it will be necessary to assist the livestock more by integrating the feed. And this is true both for animals affected by the blue tongue and for those who suffer the consequences indirectly due to the prior PCR block of the handling ", says the president of Coldiretti Sardegna Battista Cualbu," and this happens with the prices of the feed doubled thus like all other costs, the PCR itself will weigh on company budgets as it costs 25 euros which will certainly be paid in advance, even if we will fight so that the Region, as in the past, intervenes to cut costs.
