If cases of cholera are detected in the animal husbandry unit, all animals must be killed to prevent the spread.
To prevent its spread plague The number of small-horned animals is a priority for the authorities after the confirmation of cases of cholera in a sheep and goat farm in Kalambaka, Municipality of Meteora.
Professor of Animal Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH) Spyros KritasSpeaking to APE-MPE, he states that the disease “is serious, but it only affects ruminants and especially goats it does not exist in other animal species, nor in humans“. Therefore, there is no risk to public healthhowever, its possible spread could have a significant impact on goat and sheep farming.
«This is a disease that does not exist in Greece and we expected it“, notes Mr. Kritas, adding, “Public services have been warning vets for years, especially in areas near Evros, Because the virus was also present in neighboring Turkey“. At the same time, he clarifies that “The virus is present in the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa, but as is known, many diseases from these places have become more resistant in recent years due to climate change.“. Transmission between animals occurs through close contact, aerosols, and objects such as agricultural and livestock implements, farmer’s boots or car tires.
Declaration of illness is mandatory during epidemics, all animals in the unit are killed. According to the AUTH professor, cases were detected in farm animals “it is not given for consumption, not because it might be harmful to humans, but because if taken to a slaughterhouse, the virus could be transmitted there by objects, people’s clothing, or vehicles.“. «Slaughterhouses are transit centers. There you can find a breeder who finds better prices from the Peloponnese to the slaughterhouse in Macedonia. If he has not disinfected his truck or his boots after slaughtering his animals, leaving the road, the driver can transfer some virus to the mattresses in the cab.. Returning, he could transfer the virus to his animals in the Peloponnese or to another section in Epirus, where he would visit to pick up other animals. That’s why we pay attention“, he adds.
As for how the virus arrived in Greece and the outbreaks, Mr. Kritas notes that over time the authorities may look for it, but he stresses that what is required now is to take the necessary safety measures. not to spread.
African swine fever
Regarding African swine fever, he points out that it is a more serious viral disease. it applies only to pigs and to no other animal, nor to man and adds that the fear in this case is transmission of the virus to organized farms, again with possible consequences in more organized pig farming.
Bird flu
Answering a question about bird flu following the events in the US and the EODY’s recently announced action plan, an AUTH professor says:In veterinary medicine, when we talk about highly pathogenic influenza, we are talking about birds. These viruses are more unstable than others, can mutate or become more pathogenic. This happens very rarely. This is a huge exception. It’s about birds again, and we’re looking for it without scaring people. In third world countries where people live with birds and have more contact with them, the virus has a higher chance of being transferred to another species, so mutation can occur.“.
Protection measures
In terms of conservation and biosecurity measures, he recommends that people take extra care when visiting farms and agricultural areas as carriers, or when traveling abroad and bringing produce from these countries. “In the case of African swine fever, for example, one can visit Sandanski, Bulgaria, where cases of the disease have been reported, and buy traditional meat. A specialty product may be made in a controlled industry or by a grandmother who prepares traditional meats. In Greece, it can be consumed in Thessaloniki Panorama, and the leftovers are dumped in the garbage to be eaten by the wild boars that descend on the region in search of food. In this way African plague can be fatally transmitted to wild pigs» meaningfully notes.