After two years the Blue Tongue returns to Ogliastra . There are five outbreaks of blue tongue identified in some sheep farms in Bari Sardo, Ilbono and Tortolì . The last ones detected in the area dated back to October 2021.
The analyzes of the zooprophylactic institute of Teramo, national reference center for bluetongue, confirmed the presence of the virus in two farms in Tortolì, another two in Bari Sardo and one in Ilbono.
The Ogliastra Local Health Authority immediately adopted all measures to avoid the spread of the disease, establishing a "surveillance zone" which affects the municipalities of Lotzorai, Girasole, Tortolì, Elini, Ilbono, Bari Sardo, Loceri, Lanusei, Gairo, Osini, Cardedu and Tertenia . Area in which the movement of animals will be permitted only after the livestock has undergone a veterinary examination .
However , the director of the complex Animal Health structure of the Ogliastra Local Health Authority Dino Garau reassures: «It is a very weak epidemic , compared to 1,902 sheep we had 121 cases»
«There is no emergency, the situation is not serious and is fully under control – he continues – also thanks to the effective vaccination campaign that we have carried out in recent years in our territory».
Blue Tongue is a non-contagious infectious disease of ruminants, transmitted by insects. To prevent it, in addition to vaccination, it is important to control and eliminate the population of insect vectors , which reduces the risk of transmission of the virus. Eliminating mud on farms prevents the insect from laying eggs and proliferating.
Farmers must therefore " eliminate the marshy areas in the vicinity of the farms by adopting certain measures, such as draining and covering depressions and pits, plowing and turning the mud and channeling the waste water with closed pipes towards leakage wells".
«Furthermore – continues Garau – it can be very useful to provide closed and protected places with mosquito nets where animals can be housed during the night . It is strongly recommended to disinfest the inside and outside of animal shelters with repellents, including mosquito nets."
(Unioneonline/L)