Forty-six sheep and goats have been infected with bluetongue across three farms in the Nicosia and Limassol districts, with ten animals dying, Veterinary Services Director Christodoulos Pipis said on Thursday.
Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency, Pipis warned that the disease could spread because it is transmitted by infected biting midges, whose movement cannot be controlled.
He stressed that bluetongue does not infect humans or pose a risk to human health or food safety.
Vaccination and protective measures
Pipis said vaccination against the relevant virus serotypes was the main protective measure available to livestock farmers.
He also outlined measures to reduce animals’ exposure to insects, including applying insect repellents and fitting fine-mesh screens to windows and entrances in livestock housing.
The approach to managing bluetongue differs from that used for foot-and-mouth disease, he explained, noting that the diseases fall under different regulatory categories.
Impact on livestock
Although bluetongue poses no risk to humans, Pipis said it can reduce animals’ productivity because of the illness and physical damage caused by the infection.
The disease can also be fatal, with an animal’s health, nutritional status and immune system influencing the outcome.
“Whether or not an animal succumbs to the disease is a multifactorial issue. It is not a given that all the animals will succumb to the disease,” he said.
Source: Cyprus News Agency (CNA)
Photo: Katia Christodoulou
