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Authorities said preventive measures are being taken on Wednesday, following an outbreak of sheep and goat pox in the north.
Six cases were detected in two livestock units in Famagusta, according to Director of the Agriculture Ministry, Andreas Gregoriou, and farmers in the Republic have been cautioned to keep a 3km distance radius away from the area where incidents were noted.
His department is in communication with British bases authorities, as well as the UN forces, the director said, and disinfection of vehicles traversing the area of the outbreak is underway.
The virus was detected in livestock units in Famagusta, Engomi and Acheritou and these three areas have been quarantined, while vaccination of all animals by the veterinary services in the north began on Tuesday, according to Yeni Duzen.
An update on the Near East University website said the virus was first detected in two farms in Famagusta on Friday evening, following which 16,200 animals were quarantined in 264 farms in the wider region.
According to NEU Veterinary Medicine professor, Deniz Seyrek İntaş the sheep and goat pox epidemic poses no threat to humans – provided that meat is well-cooked – as the virus is killed at a temperature of 60C.
Symptoms appear eight to 13 days after transmission the expert said, including fever, listlessness, conjunctivitis, tearing and runny nose.
The expert stated that sheep and goat pox, transmitted through a member of the Capripoxvirus genus from the Poxviridae family, is highly contagious and highly lethal in small ruminants, however, it does not pose an equivalent threat to cattle.
The severity of the disease can vary depending on the virus strain and the age and breed of the animal, but mortality rates are high in lambs and immature kids under one month old.
Fully gown animals chances of survival are low once infection moves to the lungs, and symptoms such as high fever, abortion, and weakness are observed.
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