Is the Bluetongue Virus slowing down? Not in the Oristano area where, despite the latest data from the regional zooprophylactic institute , the epidemic continues to spread.
In the last three weeks, the ASL of Oristano reports, the dead animals have increased by 121%, the infected ones by 58%, the number of outbreaks has instead grown by 31% .
These are the data provided by the Animal Health Service of the ASL 5, directed by Dr. Enrico Vacca: the dead heads are 7,256 (at the beginning of October they were 3,272), the infected sheep are 30,467 (they were 19,279), the outbreaks are 749 (they were 571) .
The prevalent serotypes are 3 and 8, in some farms the presence of 4 is also recorded. And the mortality rate in three weeks has doubled, going from 1.25 to 2.38 percent.
Vacca underlines the «significant economic damage for the companies», also due to the «numerous abortions» and the many sheep that «will not be able to be productive for at least a year» .
THE RESTRICTIONS
Dr. Vacca recalled the restrictions in force: «From all over the Oristano area, 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 advance notification of at least 48 hours and the same movements are subject to compliance with certain risk reduction measures, such as treatment with insect repellent and subsequent PCR test. The movements of animals of the same species mentioned above only from slaughterhouses 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».
(Unioneonline/L)