Sheep and goat plague: what are the risks for Cyprus

The disease, known as peste des petits ruminants, is killing sheep and goats in Greece and Romania. The Veterinary Service is doing everything possible to prevent its spread in Cyprus.

The Veterinary Service is participating in an epidemiological study to determine how the virus entered Eastern Europe. This was announced by the director of the department, Christodoulos Pipis.

There are no cases of the disease in Cyprus yet. But the island's strong ties to Greece make the spread of the plague potentially possible. According to the law, Cypriot farmers are required to report cases of this disease to the Veterinary Service.

The EU has imposed restrictions on the supply of animals and animal products from affected areas. In addition, the Greek Ministry of Agriculture unilaterally decided to prohibit the transport of animals and animal products outside the country in order to contain the spread of the virus.

For its part, Cyprus cannot independently take measures to ban the import of meat from affected countries, as this is contrary to the principle of an open market.

The plague is not transmitted to people. However, the virus is very dangerous for small ruminants, which it kills.

Sick cattle are euthanized. The remains of infected animals are either burned or buried on site if transport to a crematorium is not possible without the risk of spreading the virus. When carcasses are buried on site, they are doused with lime and disinfectants.

The disease was first reported in 1942 in Ivory Coast and has since spread to many countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. It has become an endemic disease in Turkey.

The virus is transmitted through close contact between healthy and infected animals. And also through contaminated food, water and equipment, where it can persist for up to 72 hours, depending on humidity levels, temperature and the presence of natural light.

The most common method of further spread of the disease is the transportation of infected animals. The incubation period of the virus is four to six days, but can last up to ten.

Clinical symptoms include high fever lasting up to five days, fatigue, lack of appetite, increased mucus from the eyes and nose, and mouth ulcers. These are followed a few days later by watery, bloody diarrhea, cough and shortness of breath. If the animal survives, symptoms may persist for up to two weeks. The disease has an almost 100% mortality rate.

Farmers are urged to keep their animals confined, practice good sanitation, dispose of waste, drain areas of standing water, and keep insect and rodent populations low.

Animals should be examined daily and the Veterinary Service should be immediately informed of any suspicion of infection or a decrease in milk production.

The text was prepared based on materials from Cyprus Mail and Politis

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