A new case of Sheep Goat Smallpox was detected in one small cattle farm in Balıkesir village. The Livestock Committee, which convened urgently on 25.07.2023 within the body of the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, decided to take the following measures. The Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources has decided to take and implement the following measures under the Animal Health Law.
- Prohibition of animal movements and quarantine in the region between 25 July and 25 September of all small cattle and cattle holdings registered in Balıkesir village;
- Banning the entry of animals into the area until September 25;
- Emergency vaccination of small ruminants in registered holdings in Balıkesir village against Smallpox;
- Making the animals in the quarantine area only on Thursdays in the ET-SAN slaughterhouse with the control and approval of the Veterinary Department;
- Compensation by the General Agricultural Insurance of animals that died and were culled due to illness;
- Intensive disinfection and insecticide struggle in the region,
- Establishment of disinfection points by the owners of all slaughterhouses and disinfection of mortar transport vehicles;
- Regular disinfection of slaughterhouses and spraying with insecticides.
The implementation of the measures and vaccination studies in the region will start immediately as of 26 July. It is important that the producers and related persons show sensitivity about the disease, follow the rules seriously and assist the studies to be carried out in the relevant region.
The disease is a viral disease that is not transmitted to humans, but has a high morbidity and mortality rate in sheep and goats. The disease has no effective treatment and spreads rapidly among animals. Sick animals become sluggish, fever develops, and eating and drinking decreases. Redness, papules and raised lesions occur in the head area of the sick animals, under the abdomen and tail, and between the legs. With the spread of the disease, clinical symptoms intensities and death can occur.
Vaccination and restriction of animal movements have an important effect on the protection of the disease. Although the disease spreads to a large extent by inter-animal contact and animal movements; It can also be transmitted mechanically by stinging and blood-sucking flies and insects. It is very important to report suspected cases and test them as soon as possible in determining the disease and taking preventive measures. It is essential for the control of the disease that the producers report the suspected cases, sick and dead animals to the Veterinary Department.
