Vitebsk District Veterinary Station Urges Caution Due to Outbreak of Dangerous FMD Virus in One of the European Countries
The Vitsebsk District Veterinary Station urges not to buy animal feed and feed additives of an unknown manufacturer. Such precautions are associated with an outbreak in one of the European countries of a virus that is extremely dangerous for animals and people - foot-and-mouth disease.
This contagious disease affects cattle, wild and domestic cloven-hoofed animals. It also poses a threat to humans. Among the clinical signs of foot-and-mouth disease are vesicular and ulcerative lesions of the limbs, udder and oral cavity in animals. The virus is excreted in milk, saliva, urine and feces. The pathogen infects feed, care items, drinking bowls, water, bedding, clothing, pastures and much more. The hair of a sick animal can be contagious for at least another month.
Rapid transmission of the virus occurs when sick and healthy individuals are kept together. A person can become infected by contact with an animal, eating raw milk. Pasteurization of this product and its boiling kill the causative agent of the virus.
It is important to remember: the infection is not transmitted from person to person; Adults tolerate the disease more easily than children.
To avoid the occurrence and spread of foot-and-mouth disease, the following measures must be observed:
- inspect animals daily for timely detection of a possible disease;
- purchase feed and feed additives only of known origin in strictly established retail outlets;
- not to allow unauthorized persons to enter personal courtyards; to fight rodents on an ongoing basis;
- immediately report all cases of animal disease to specialists of the veterinary service or to village executive committees.
You can contact the Vitebsk District Veterinary Station on this issue by phone: (8-0212) 48-09-04, 48-09-06.
