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Kazakhstan restricts cattle import from European countries

Business Materials 7 March 2012 17:01 (UTC +04:00)

Azerbaijan, Baku, March 7 / Trend E. Kosolapova/

Kazakhstan imposed temporary restrictions on cattle import from Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and France in connection with numerous foci of previously unknown virus Schmallenberg in these countries, the Kazakh Agriculture Ministry reported on Wednesday. The restrictions were also imposed on small cattle import from France.

"The disease has been detected in 240 livestock farms in Netherlands, 126 farms in Belgium, 22 farms in Germany, 4 farms in Eastern England, as well as in several farms in the French province of Lorraine. Sheep, goats and cattle are susceptible to the disease, the virus is spread by blood-sucking insects," the Ministry said.

According to the Ministry, the infected animals have fever, Gastrointestinal tract disorders, sharp drop in milk production and abortion. Lambs, goats and calves born by infected by Schmallenberg mothers have birth defects of joints and cervical spine, in many cases its brain is displaced by cysts filled with fluid. Such offspring are stillborn or die shortly after birth. The death of young animals in infected herds hit 20 - 50 percent.

At present, there is no vaccine to prevent the disease.

"The negative impact of the virus Schmallenberg on human health can not be excluded, although the known viruses genetically similar to Schmallenberg, have caused no diseases to humans," the Ministry said.

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