The two veterinarians mandated by the Valais authorities to vaccinate more than 2,000 animals against contagious nodular dermatosis are approaching the end of their mission. As the vaccine will deploy the whole of its protection within only 28 days, alertness remains in order.
“I received the doses on Friday morning and started vaccinating the same afternoon. I had about 1000 animals to vaccinate. This morning, I have less than 200 left. It’s almost over, “said veterinarian Jérémy Wittorski on Tuesday.
The vaccine consists of a single dose of eight milliliters, injected under the skin of the animal. “He will start to have an effect in a day and reach maximum protection after 28 days,” he continued.
In the meantime, it involves monitoring cattle in order to detect the appearance of possible symptoms and repel vectors of the disease, namely flies and sting insects (tales and mosquitoes), by means of a specific product. “This is the best way to limit contamination,” said Jérémy Wittorski.
At this point, no case in Switzerland
If symptoms are detected in an animal, analyzes are done in the laboratory. If the case turns out to be positive, the animal is killed, as well as the other cattle with which it was in contact. “It’s the European directive,” he said.
Currently, no case of this highly contagious viral disease has been detected in Switzerland. The Federal Office for Food Safety and Veterinary Affairs (OSV) had however decided on Friday of compulsory vaccination for all the cattle, buffaloes and bison present in the Valais regions of Champéry, Finhaut and Ferret as part of the establishment of an immune barrier around households detected in neighboring France.
“In the Trient valley and the Val Ferret we are really at the end of this famous health cord, that’s why we only have a few beasts to vaccinate,” observes the veterinarian,
The previous week, the OSV announced the compulsory vaccination of all the cattle of the canton of Geneva and those of the neighboring region of the Holy Land (VD).
This disease has no risk for humans
Note that the vaccines used are not allowed in Switzerland. However, the OSV has issued a general decision for the importation and use of these vaccines. Vaccination costs are fully covered by the veterinary authorities.
Contagious nodular dermatosis has no risk for humans and other species. In cattle on the other hand, after an incubation period of 4 to 20 days, it causes painful nodules all over the body and can trigger symptoms ranging from a fever to 41 degrees to lactation falls. There are many consequences (weight loss, sterility, etc.) and can increase the death rate of the herd to 10%.
