MINSK, 23 September (BelTA) – The Belarusian Agriculture and Food Ministry will step up measures to prevent nodular dermatitis in animals, BelTA learned from Ivan Smilgin, Deputy Director of the Veterinary and Food Oversight Department of the Belarusian Agriculture and Food Ministry, Deputy Chief State Veterinarian, on 23 September.
According to the source, the risk of Belarus getting the new cattle disease is rising and all the necessary measures to keep the disease out of the country will be taken. No nodular dermatitis cases have been registered in Belarus so far but the threat persists, noted Ivan Smilgin.
The Deputy Chief State Veterinarian explained that, first of all, it is necessary to never import animals without authorization of the state veterinary service. It is also necessary to fence off all the farms and animal husbandry complexes. It is necessary to keep strangers, stray animals, and vehicles outside corporate and personal farms. It is necessary to provide disposable clothes and footwear to personnel of agricultural enterprises. Disinfection mats or basins should be installed at entrances of all the animal husbandry facilities. Insect control measures are as important.
BelTA has been told that nodular dermatitis has been registered in southern Russia since 2015. Cases of nodular dermatitis have been registered in Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Kazakhstan, and parts of Russia, including Dagestan, Kalmykia, Ingushetia, Chechnya, Krasnodar Krai, Stavropol Krai, Astrakhan Oblast, Volgograd Oblast, and Rostov Oblast.
Nodular dermatitis is a viral disease that affects cattle. Economic damage is considerable since mortality rate is high. The animals that survive produce much less milk. The skin of surviving animals is damaged, seed bulls become sterile. The disease is not dangerous for humans.
According to the Deputy Chief State Veterinarian, if contagious nodular dermatitis is detected in Belarus, the country will not be able to export cattle and products of animal origin. The disease can be spread by transporting animals, animal products from affected countries or by bloodsucking insects.
