He has defeated the plague, now he must be stronger than lumpy skin disease. On May 1st, Saint Efisio will not travel in Cagliari aboard an ox-drawn carriage, nor will he be preceded by the traccas: he could leave the church of Stampace on a sedan chair , carried on the shoulders of the brothers who guard the rite, who will take turns carrying him to the former semolina factory on Viale La Playa. From there, the statue could be transferred to a vehicle yet to be identified.
This is the scenario unfolding ahead of the 370th edition of the festival for the warrior martyr, on May 1st and the return on the 4th, due to the resurgence of the bovine disease in Sardinia. Three outbreaks in the Sarrabus region, between Muravera and Villaputzu, have forced the slaughter of herds and a 50-kilometer restriction zone (including Cagliari) has been established, prohibiting the movement of cattle. It seemed all over, and the possibility of an exemption from the stringent contagion containment measures was mooted : during meetings between regional government departments and the Ministry of Health, the aim was to obtain approval at least for the use of oxen in the carriage, a symbol of tradition.
But yesterday, another unpleasant surprise arrived: a suspected case was detected in a calf from a herd in Ballao. Even without confirmation from the serological test—which has yet to arrive—all hopes have been dashed.
Concern is growing in the island's countryside over the new outbreak of the disease, which risks having a severe impact on the Sardinian cattle market.
In the small church of Stampace, meanwhile, discussions are underway to resolve the logistical problem of the saint's journey to Nora, the site of his martyrdom. The idea of using a motorized vehicle like the one used in 1943, during the bombings, or in 2020, the year of Covid, is unpopular: there's no need to reenact tragic events. The alternative could be the physical strength of the Gonfalone brothers. They have one goal: the vow must be fulfilled.