Insect-Borne Virus Spreading In Kentucky
US - An insect-borne virus taking a toll on deer has spread to some Kentucky cattle herds, presenting another problem for some producers already struggling with a shortage of feed supplies caused by weather setbacks.
27 September 2007
1 minute read
"It's kind of like having the flu, you just have to wear it out,"
Northington, director of the Murray State University Breathitt Veterinary Center in Hopkinsville
"A lot of people are very, very concerned," said agricultural extension agent Rick Greenwell in Washington County, where the virus is blamed for infecting some herds and killing several cattle. Wade Northington, director of an animal diagnostic laboratory in western Kentucky, said Wednesday that epizootic hemorrhagic disease, or EHD, was detected by his lab in 20 to 30 cattle that died in recent weeks. The disease, which cannot be contracted by humans, is spread to deer or cattle by biting gnats or flies. Horses do not appear to be susceptible to the virus, said Northington, director of the Murray State University Breathitt Veterinary Center in Hopkinsville.
Mature cattle generally survive the virus but can be sick for a week to 10 days. Symptoms include fever, diarrhea, nose or mouth lesions and stiffness. There is no vaccine to prevent the illness, Northington said.
"It's kind of like having the flu, you just have to wear it out," he said.
Veterinarians suspect that some cases of aborted calves may be due to the disease, he said.
"So it has had an impact to some extent on our cattle herds," he said. "It's sporadic."
Source: Kentucky.com
