“Bluetongue” disease present in Kosovo, no dead animals

“Bluetongue” disease present in Kosovo, no dead animals

On two farms, one in Prishtina and one in Lipjan, the first cases of the presence of the disease “blue tongue” in animals have been identified in Kosovo. The Food and Veterinary Agency tells Radio Kosova that this disease is not transmitted to humans, but can be fatal for animals. The AUVA has already taken measures to prevent the spread of the disease, which was present years ago.

The viral disease “bluetongue”, which is transmitted through mosquito bites to sheep and goats, has also spread in Kosovo. The presence of the first cases of the disease affecting sheep and goats has now been confirmed by the Food and Veterinary Agency.

Sadik Heta, director of the Animal Health and Welfare Directorate at AUVK, tells Radio Kosova that so far there have been no cases of animal deaths on farms where the disease is present.

“We have two outbreaks of the “blue tongue” disease, in the municipalities of Pristina and Lipjan, precisely in the villages of Marec and Brusë. This is a disease that is also circulating in countries in the region and Europe, and unfortunately the presence of this disease was confirmed in our country yesterday. At the moment we have no deaths, so we have no economic damage,” said Heta. 

This disease is not transmitted to humans, but it is not recommended to consume meat from animals that may be affected, Heta emphasizes. He talks about the measures they have taken to prevent the spread of the disease.

“We have taken the necessary legal and professional measures to prevent the spread of the “blue tongue” disease. We immediately placed the farms in quarantine. We have temporarily banned the movement of animals, inside and outside the affected areas. We have also started disinfection to combat the mosquitoes that transmit the virus, and we are also conducting an epidemiological investigation,” Heta emphasized.

The Food and Veterinary Agency invites livestock farmers to report suspected cases of this disease and to bury dead animals in safe places. The “blue tongue” disease in Kosovo was also present during 2015.