Tainan says suspected bovine ephemeral fever under control
CNA 2012-12-01 17:07
A dairy farm in Tainan. (File photo/Cheng Wei-wu)
The Tainan city government in southern Taiwan said Friday that following suspected cases of bovine ephemeral fever (BEF) at three dairy farms, it has stepped up disinfection of the farms and surrounding areas.
Lee Chao-chuan, head of animal quarantine department, said the outbreak has not spread.
Lee said the department was notified recently by three dairy farms that a total of six cows had come down with fever and begun drooling, the symptoms associated with the disease. "We immediately counseled them on treatment and sent people to step up disinfection at and around the dairy farms," Lee said.
He said the cows were recovering well and that no new suspected cases have surfaced.
The city government has collected samples from the cows with the suspected BEF infections and sent them to the Council of Agriculture to be examined.
Lee noted that all 21,000 cows in the city were vaccinated against the fever in June or July, but if the six cows are confirmed to have had the disease, the city government will consider moving back the standard inoculation period to around September.
Bovine ephemeral fever is a viral disease that affects cattle and buffalo. Affected animals are typically sick for only a few days, hence the alternative name, Three Day Sickness.
