Possible pandemic: Experts warn of viral outbreak among sheep, goats

The symptoms include severe diarrhoea and respiratory problems and the animal may die within 36 to 48 hours.


Our Correspondent February 17, 2014
The virus, which is known ‘Mata’ in Urdu, predominantly affects smaller animals such as goats and sheep. PHOTO: INP/FILE

KARACHI:


Veterinary experts fear the possibility of a pandemic due to the outbreak of viral disease among sheep and goats in rural Sindh. The virus, Pes Pes Rinder, is highly contagious, cautioned Dr Zameer Ahmed, an associate professor at the Dow University of Health Sciences, on Sunday.


The virus, which is known ‘Mata’ in Urdu, predominantly affects smaller animals such as goats and sheep. The symptoms include severe diarrhoea and respiratory problems and the animal may die within 36 to 48 hours.

According to Dr Ahmed, only smaller animals are susceptible to the disease and it does not affect cows or buffaloes. On the other hand, one of the major patterns known to trigger the onset of the disease is the changes in weather conditions. Speaking about the management of the disease, Dr Ahmed said that the only form of treatment was immunisation.

What is lamentable is that most cattle traders do not get the livestock immunised according to the changing weather conditions, said Dr Ahmed.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 18th, 2014.

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