The National Agriculture and Quarantine Authority (NAQIA) Biosecurity team is currently doing awareness on two new diseases that might affect cattle herds in the country.
The Viruses are the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and the Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) which are both not yet in the Region but are prompting authorities to create awareness whilst maintaining that these diseases do not get into the country.
Foot and Mouth Disease is a virus that spreads very quickly amongst cloven-hoofed animals like pigs, cattle and buffalo herds, especially when they are living close to each other.
Once contracted, foot and mouth disease can cause severe problems in the animal’s movement and appetite, which directly affects the meat and milk production in Papua New Guinea (PNG).
Symptoms are mouth blisters and sores, excess saliva, tongue blisters and sores, resisting movement, hoof blisters and sores, lameness and fever.
FMD can be avoided by regular screening of the hoofed animals for symptoms, following precautions, and reporting any symptoms to NAQIA.
Lumpy skin disease is a fast-spreading viral disease of cattle and buffalo. LSD is not yet in PNG, but it is a threat to animals in the country.
Lumpy Skin Disease or LSD affects cattle and buffalo. Symptoms are Lumps on skin, weight loss, loss of appetite, reduced milk production amongst females, miscarriages among females.
NAQIA is monitoring cattle breeding herds within the nation especially in Lae, Ramu and the Numando Cattle farm in Kimbe as well to make sure that cattle do not contract such diseases.
Meanwhile, NAQIA Managing Director Joel Alu has assured the people that the FMD and LSD vaccines have been ordered and will be ready to supply in the event of a virus outbreak.
NAQIA has learnt its lesson from the ASF outbreak and is now taking extra precautions to prevent another one of such an ordeal.
The African Swine Flu outbreak has changed the way people look after pigs and that has helped greatly and is now well into its recovery phase.
Alu has also encouraged the people to keep animals in PNG Safe.