861 cattle have been destroyed since the beginning of the lumpy skin disease outbreak in Sardinia. This figure is expected to rise significantly, as reported in the official tables of the national veterinary epidemiological bulletin.
Even in the last few hours, local health authority veterinarians have intervened on some farms on the island to cull herds where the virus has appeared: as established by a series of decisions by the Regional Administrative Court (TAR) and the Council of State, even vaccinated and healthy animals are not spared.
If a case has been detected, all livestock on farms deemed contaminated must be slaughtered. This, according to European directives—and the administrative judges have aligned themselves—applied by the Region and various local health authorities, is the only way to stem the spread.
Official figures show that 56 outbreaks have been confirmed so far, all concentrated in a single area of the Nuoro province, with the exception of two detections in Padru and Cuglieri. The affected farms account for 2,524 animals (all of which will be killed, if the situation remains unchanged): 108 have died from the disease, and 754 have been culled . This compares to 352 infected animals.
Since the mandatory vaccination campaign began, the number of new outbreaks has decreased: so far in September, only two have been confirmed. But health authorities believe the immunization process through inoculations isn't enough: where there's a case, it's eliminated—this is their hard line.
<p>The price list for the disposal of carcasses </p>To cover disposal costs, funds were allocated in July by Ares (the Regional Health Authority). A total of €3,762,460 is available. The rates offered by three companies are per kilo: € 1.06 from Umbra Service, €1.08 from Ecoserdiana Spa, and €1.56 from RealBeef.
Enrico Fresu