Bovine Dermatitis, Two More Outbreaks Discovered in Sardinia: Alarm Level Rises
A contagion has been confirmed in Sarule and another in Orani: the confirmed cases on the Island become six. But the results of numerous analyses are awaited
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There are two new outbreaks of contagious nodular skin disease confirmed in Sardinia: one in Orani – where confirmed infections rise to three – and the other in Sarule. The data emerges from the national veterinary epidemiological bulletin which places yesterday, June 30, the certification of the increase in the number of cattle affected by the virus that is causing concern in the Sardinian countryside (and not only).
Seven clinically confirmed outbreaks in all of Italy. One in the Mantua area, which is considered already extinct (a culling campaign has been carried out). All the others are in Sardinia: the additional towns affected are Bottidda and Orotelli. With the addition of Sarule, the geography of restrictions will also change, which had only been expanded yesterday with an order issued by the veterinary offices of the regional health department. The protection zone will be redefined, with a radius of 20 kilometers around the affected companies (and Sarule must also be added): here the most restrictive health measures apply, such as the ban on animal movement, active surveillance and limitations on fairs and transport. But the form of the surveillance zone will also change, with a radius of 50 kilometers, where the limitations are eased but the obligation of active monitoring, timely health notifications and strengthened surveillance remains.
To understand the size of the phenomenon: before the discovery of the two new outbreaks, the restricted red zone included over 1,800 cattle breeding companies. There were over 5,700 in the surveillance area.
Three cattle have been found to be ill in the last few hours. But all the animals on the farms involved are being monitored. There is a fear among those in the field: the nodular dermatitis virus, also known as Lumpy Skin Disease, may have arrived in Sardinia some time ago. The contagion may have been ongoing for weeks. And now that they are looking, the disease is found. So much so that they are waiting for the results of analyses conducted in about ten farms, where the symptoms have manifested themselves.
As happened in Lombardy, where checks were carried out on animals imported from Sardinia. And in France, where the alarm – confirmed by the Ministry of Agriculture in Paris – was raised in Savoy: the contagion has crossed the sea. While we are trying to understand how it arrived in Sardinia.
A necessary clarification: bovine dermatitis is not harmful to humans. Up to now, it has been fought on animals with vaccination and culling. While on companies, forced to a total block of movements for an indefinite period, it could have a devastating impact.
