Bluetongue virus has affected three sheep and goat farms in Nicosia and Limassol districts, with 46 animals infected and 10 deaths so far, Director of Veterinary Services Christodoulos Pipis told the Cyprus News Agency on Thursday.
Risk of further spread
Pipis said there is a risk of further spread because the virus is transmitted through small biting midges.
“The movement of the small midges is not something you can control, so there is a risk of spread,” he said.
However, bluetongue virus poses no risk to human health and does not infect or otherwise affect people, Pipis stressed.
He also noted that the virus differs from foot-and-mouth virus in terms of how it is managed and stressed that the two virus are not considered to have the same level of importance.
Foot-and-mouth disease is classified as a Category A disease, while bluetongue is not.
Vaccination among key measures
Pipis said vaccination is the main preventive measure for livestock farmers who wish to vaccinate against the specific bluetongue serotypes.
Other measures include using insect repellents on animals and limiting insects’ access to livestock facilities as much as possible.
Veterinary Services recommend using dense insect screens on windows and other access points leading to areas where animals are housed or overwintered.
No risk from animal products
Pipis said there is also no risk from products produced by infected animals.
He explained that production may decline because of the effects of the virus and the physical changes caused by the infection.
Bluetongue virus can cause an animal to die, depending on its overall health, nutritional condition and immune system.
“Whether an animal will die or not is a multifactorial issue,” Pipis said, stressing that not all infected animals will necessarily die from the virus.
Also read: Bluetongue virus detected in sheep and goat farms in Cyprus
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