The Veterinary Administration of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management has taken measures and activities to prevent the introduction of the virus called plague of small ruminants through increased control of animals imported into Serbia, in order to effectively suppress the disease. Special attention is paid to the import of sheep and goats, and control measures include a review of supporting documentation for each shipment, including animal health certificates issued by the competent veterinary services of the exporting country, as well as mandatory disinfection of all means of transport that transport animals across the border.
Considering the invasive characteristics of sheep and goat diseases, for which the human factor is largely responsible, the importance of applying comprehensive and strict control and restrictive measures that go beyond the competence of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Veterinary Administration was emphasized. For the sake of efficiency of supervision, a control system is included at all border crossings, which are carried out by the border police and customs services.
What is plague of small ruminants? The Veterinary Administration clarifies
Plague of small ruminants (PPR) is a serious infectious disease that affects sheep and goats, causing high fever, inflammation of the mucous membranes of the mouth and nose, difficulty breathing and diarrhea. The disease can be fatal, especially for unvaccinated animals. It spreads through direct contact with infected animals, through contaminated food and water, and through the air.
The disease usually develops over a period of 4 to 10 days. Symptoms include high fever, exhaustion, drowsiness, weakness, decreased food and water intake, discharge from the eyes and nose that may be purulent, sneezing and coughing, difficulty breathing accompanied by wheezing, inflammation of the mucous membrane of the mouth with sores and ulcers that make chewing and feeding difficult, diarrhea , loss of fitness and signs of weakness.
How to proceed if the disease is detected?
In the event of the appearance of any of these symptoms in animals, it is necessary to contact the competent veterinary service immediately. A quick response is key to stopping the spread of disease and protecting the herd. Protection measures include:
- control of animal movements between farms and regions
- prohibition of import and export of animals from infected areas
- isolation of infected animals
- quick identification of infected animals.
Applying strict biosecurity measures on farms, such as disinfecting equipment and vehicles, wearing protective equipment, restricting access to farms and isolating infected animals can also help prevent the spread of the virus.
Cooperation and compliance with these measures help protect the livestock industry and preserve animal health. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management appeals to all involved parties to respect the prescribed measures. Only in this way, they say, would the spread of the plague of small ruminants be prevented and the health of livestock in Serbia be preserved. Disinfection of equipment and means of transport, wearing protective equipment and limiting access to farms are key measures in the fight against this disease. Rapid identification and isolation of infected animals, together with control of movement between farms, are essential to prevent the spread of the virus and preserve ruminant health.
Source: AgroTV
Source: boljazemlja.com
