Lumpy skin disease in animals is not a viral disease, and there is no risk for humans to contract it. The milk and meat are not dangerous, people can use them, because the disease only attacks cattle, the for Food and Veterinary Agency said.
The information came by the authority in relation to the the tropical disease which had an outbreak in Macedonia for the first time and is spreading intensively throughout Europe.
The prohibition to use milk and meat from diseased animals was introduced as a measure to stop the illness from spreading among the cattle.
Until two days ago, the disease was confirmed with 39 herds, whereas 524 cattle have been in contact with them, and which could have potentially contracted the disease. The disease has been registered in 14 municipalities with a total of 34 hotbeds.
Lumpy skin disease can be recognized by high body temperature, up to 40 degrees Celsius, lumps to the skin, drop of lactation, nose and eyes secretion, and miscarriages of the infected animals.
If farmers notice any of these signs, they must inform a veterinarian or to call the Food and Veterinary Agency.
This disease is transmitted through insects (mosquitoes and warble flies), directly, through a contact between an infected and a healthy animal, or indirectly, through infected water, food, feces, or equipment.
The farmers are recommended to keep their cattle inside the barn, and not allow them on a pasture, not to mix them with other cattle from different breeders, put nets on the barns to protect them from insects, and to regularly disinfect, and use insect repellents.
Also, it is recommended that the barn should have only one entrance and exit, to disinfect the shoes and hands before entering and exiting the barn, to use protective clothing which will be regularly disinfected, to isolate the sick from the healthy animals, if possible in different facilities, and the farmers working with the diseased animals not to have access to the healthy animals on the farm.
The vaccines are expected to arrive by the end of the month, which will be used on 225,000 oxen.