Small ruminant plague virus (PMR) was confirmed in samples taken from sheep from a commercial farm, with a herd of 49,091 sheep, from the town of Baia, Tulcea county.
The first cases of the disease appeared on July 11, followed by deaths in the following days.
Veterinarians suspected the development of lung diseases of bacterial origin exacerbated by the extremely high temperatures during this period.
The first outbreak of plague of small ruminants in Romania
Samples were collected for laboratory examination at the Tulcea County Veterinary Sanitary Laboratory, and to extend investigations for viral diseases, samples were sent to IDSA, which diagnosed the presence of the PMR virus.
On July 19, the first plague of small ruminants outbreak in Romania was confirmed.
The Local Disease Control Center was convened, in which the action plan for combating the disease and the measures to prevent its spread was presented, with the establishment of the responsibilities of the institutions that will collaborate to fulfill it.
It was decided to immediately kill the entire flock of sheep, followed by the exhumation of the corpses by burying them on the territory of the farm, in a location approved by the National Environmental Guard and the Tulcea Water Management System.
Plague of small ruminants is a serious viral disease
Protection (3km) and surveillance (10km) zones were demarcated around the outbreak and restrictive measures were taken for the movement of people, animals and means of transport. All commercial farms of sheep and goats in Tulcea County have been notified and verified in order to comply with biosecurity measures.
The neighboring counties of Constanța, Ialomița, Brăila, Galați, Călărași, as well as the European Commission and the World Organization for Animal Health, were notified.
Plague of small ruminants is a serious viral disease that does not affect humans but affects small ruminants such as sheep and goats. The disease is transmitted mainly by direct contact. Mortality in infected animals can reach 70%.
Any suspicion of illness must be reported
ANSVSA asks economic operators in Romania involved in ruminant trade to pay maximum attention to the instructions sent by ANSVSA through the county DSVSA, in order to protect their herds of small ruminants from this disease.
Any suspicion of illness must be notified as soon as possible to the county DSVSA.
“ANSVSA requests the support of sheep and goat farmers and citizens in the application of biosecurity measures, the immediate notification of veterinary services about animal suspicions and compliance with all the measures ordered by the authorities to prevent the spread of this disease on the territory of our country. At this time, the situation is under control, all the measures adopted within the CLCB have been taken to manage an outbreak of PRM and there is no possibility of affecting the health of the population. The epidemiological investigation is ongoing”, reports ANSVSA.
Source: www.descopera.ro
