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In addition to the three municipalities of Tizi Ouzou, where it initially manifested itself, just on the eve of Eid-el-Adha, the nodular skin disease Lumpy skin disease is a viral disease affecting only cattle and not transmissible to humans. It is transmitted mainly by vectors (biting insects) and is characterized in particular by fever and nodules of various sizes on the animal’s skin. (DNC) bovine spread to five other communes a few days later. Now, this insect, called hematophagous and attacking especially cattle, is present in 21 communes of the wilaya of Tizi Ouzou, which has 67.
These are the municipalities of M’kira, Aït-Yahia-Moussa, Draâ Ben Khedda, Sidi-Namaâne, Tadmaït, Draâ El-Mizan, Frikat, Aïn Zaouia, Maâtkas, Tirmitine, Tizi Ouzou, Boghni, Bounouh, Aït Aggouacha, Aghribs, Aït Bouadou, Mekla, Tizi Ghnif, Fréha, Aït Aïssa-Mimoun and Tizi N’tletha. The most affected municipalities are M’kira, Draâ Ben Khedda, Tadmaït, Draâ El-Mizan and Aït Bouadou. These 21 municipalities affected by the DNC have 1,696 bovine heads, which are housed in 142 stables. And of this livestock counted across these 21 municipalities, 357 heads are affected by the DNC. Regarding mortality, it affected 71 cattle.
However, despite these figures, which seem alarming, Dr. Nourredine Yata, head of the Veterinary Inspection of the wilaya of Tizi Ouzou, affirmed that the situation remains manageable and controllable. He explained this by the fact that 46 communes of the wilaya are now spared by this insect transmitting the virus.
As a reminder, the wilaya of Tizi Ouzou has a cattle herd of 70,000 heads. However, the head of the Veterinary Inspection of the wilaya of Tizi Ouzou called for vigilance, which must result in animal protection measures according to well-established scientific standards.
The first of these measures is mosquito control whenever the need arises. Dr. Nourredine Yata recommended increasing mosquito control operations, particularly during the months of July and August, a period known for the proliferation of mosquitoes.
He also advocated for the regulation of livestock markets. “Our livestock markets must be strictly regulated so that animals entering them are strictly identified,” said Dr. Nourredine Yata, before recalling the feasibility and interest of the electronic chip that can be fitted to the animal. “With such a means, we know exactly where the subject concerned is,” he explained.
Returning to the reasons responsible for the DNC in the 21 municipalities of the wilaya while at the beginning, only three were affected, the head of the veterinary services of the wilaya of Tizi Ouzou, while refraining from casting stones at any party, indicated that there was negligence at the beginning of the manifestation of the DNC in the taking of precautionary measures by the unaffected municipalities. “However, the insect transmitting the disease moves and, as a result, spreads,” he said, before insisting on a synergy that must emanate from all parties in this fight against the hematophage. It should be recalled that from the manifestation of the Bovine DNC Lumpy skin disease is a viral disease affecting only cattle and not transmissible to humans. It is transmitted mainly by vectors (biting insects) and is characterized in particular by fever and nodules of various sizes on the animal’s skin.livestock markets have been closed in the wilaya of Tizi Ouzou as well as in other wilayas