The bluetongue virus continues to spread in Sardinia: in just a few days, the outbreaks on the island have almost doubled, going from 360 to 666, mostly with the presence of serotype 3.
This is highlighted in the latest report published by the Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute.
Most of the farms involved are in the province of Nuoro with 176, followed closely by that of Oristano with 173 outbreaks. In this last case, the territorial ASL reports 3600 infected heads and 215 dead animals.
"Even though the mortality rate is much lower than last year - explains Enrico Vacca, director of the Animal Health Service of the ASL 5 - today we are declaring the entire provincial territory a circulation zone for the bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV3) and the rules on controlling the movement of livestock will be applied in the same territory to try to reduce the spread of the disease in flocks not yet infected by this serotype".
"From today, therefore, from all of Oristano, the movements of animals of the ovine, caprine and bovine species, from birth, to areas not affected by viral circulation must be agreed with the veterinary services of departure and destination with pre-notification or authorization of at least 48 hours and the same movements are subject to compliance with some risk reduction measures, such as treatment with insect repellent and subsequent PCR test", adds Vacca. And again: "The movements of animals of the same species mentioned above only from slaughterhouse within the national territory can be permitted without restrictions, provided that the animals do not show clinical signs on the day of transport, are slaughtered within 24 hours of arrival at the destination slaughterhouse and that the means of transport are treated with insecticide".
But the alert remains high also in other areas of Sardinia, where the numbers are currently more contained: in Sassari there was only one outbreak, in Gallura 57, in Ogliastra 31, in Medio Campidano 45, in Sulcis 106 and in the metropolitan city of Cagliari 77.
(Online Union)
