DUSHANBE, June 7, Asia-Plus – Tajikistan’s Veterinary Service head Mullojon Amirbekov today left for the Rasht Valley following report about an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (MFD) in the Tojikobod district.
Amirbekov told Asia-Plus that report about the MFD outbreak had come from the village of Nushor in Tojikobod, while he himself had not received that information. “We intend to closely monitor the situation on the site,” he said
The veterinary service head noted that the last FMD outbreaks were reported in Gorno Badakhshan in 2003 and 2004 and after that no new cases of the disease have been reported in the country. Amirbekov added that he will provide detailed information about results of the inspection to media.
In the meantime, Nozimiddin Ibrohimov, a chief veterinary inspector in the Tojikobod district, has confirmed that 50 head of cattle had been diagnosed with FMD. According to him, they are taking measures to prevent spread of the disease. “The disease seats have been revealed and prophylactic events are under way,” Ibrohimov said. Realization of meat and milk products is currently under strict control of local veterinary service, according to him.
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is an acute, highly contagious picornavirus infection of cloven hooved animals. The virus (FMDV) is sensitive to environmental influences, such as pH less than 5, sunlight and desiccation, however it can survive for long period of time at freezing temperatures.
The disease is highly contagious and may spread over great distances with movement of infected or contaminated animals, products, objects, and people. Cattle are mainly infected by inhalation. Large amounts of virus are excreted by infected animals before clinical signs are evident, and winds may spread the virus over long distances.
People can be infected through skin wounds or the oral mucosa by handling diseased stock, the virus in the laboratory, or by drinking infected milk, but not by eating meat from infected animals. The human infection is temporary and mild. FMD is not considered a public health problem.
The incubation period is 2-21 days (average 3-8) although virus is shed before clinical signs develop.
