BLUETONGUE KILLS HERDS OF CATTLE

3. September 2014.

The “bluetongue” disease emerged in the area of the municipality of Medvedja. The disease at issue is a catarrhal fever, which is a viral disease that threatens to destroy the livestock, especially the sheep, so that veterinary teams are still in the field. The municipality provided emergency financial assistance to 30 local residents who reported that they had observed the disease in their cattle, which affected around 300 sheep.

“We have a case in which 50 out of 100 sheep died in a household, and that is why the funds for vaccination of all the livestock in the area of the municipality of Medvedja will be provided from the municipal budget”, said Slobodan Draskovic, the mayor of Medvedja.

The disease can’t be transmitted to humans, while it is transmitted by mosquitoes and ticks. It is manifested in cattle by their tongues, which, after the cattle had been bitten by mosquitos or ticks, turn blue, after which the animal can’t eat and dies.

Source: Coordination Body and the Evening News