Three day sickness (ephemeral fever) of cattle has been detected in southern NSW and will continue to pose a threat following the recent welcome rain in February and March.
According to Tony Morton the Wagga based District Veterinarian for the Hume LHPA, laboratory tests have confirmed cases of the disease at Temora and that cattle on farms at Collingullie, Gundagai, Albury, Forbes, Condobolin, Narrandera, Junee and Wagga have shown to be exhibiting typical clinical signs of the disease.
Three day sickness has a more severe effect on dairy cattle and has already spread to dairy areas along coastal southern NSW.
The disease is more common in northern NSW and Queensland.
“Being an insect transmitted disease and with the recent rain coming from the north the chances of the disease occuring remains high.
“Insects will flourish after this rain and transmit the disease,” said Mr Morton.
Winds in February from the northern part of the state are believed to have brought with them insects, especially mosquitoes infected with the virus.
This is a similar story to the small outbreak last year and major epidemics which have occurred at times in this region in the past 50 years.
The NSW Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Bruce Christie also warned farmers to be on the lookout for the cattle disease.
“Three day sickness is more commonly seen in Queensland and the north-eastern parts of NSW,” Dr Christie said.
Because of the rain many herds in the north and west of NSW have experienced outbreaks and there are reports of affected cattle in Nyngan, Dubbo, and in districts in southern NSW.
“We want farmers not familiar with this disease to be aware of its spread, and let them know that vaccination, especially of bulls and pregnant cows, is an option, but that nursing sick animals will help prevent them dying,” said Dr Christie.
Farmers considering vaccinating cattle need to do it early as the vaccine can take up to six weeks to take effect but can provide resistance as soon as seven to 10 days.
“But once symptoms of the virus begin to show in cattle it can be too late to vaccinate,” said Dr Christie.
Shade, shelter, food and water should be provided to sick animals, especially in very hot and humid conditions.
Cattle show symptoms like a sudden onset of lethargy, fever and pain, are stiff and reluctant to move and often go into a dam to get relief from the fever and joint or muscular pain.
They often go down and refuse to move and may drool, have a discharge from the eyes and nose and stop eating.
Bull infertility from the fever can occur, and sometimes cows may abort.
Anti-inflammatory injections can give a very good response and enable an animal to get to water and shade.
The lower maximum temperatures experienced in the past few weeks have also helped keep the incidence of the disease at a low level.
However, farmers will need to be on the lookout for the disease over the coming weeks.
Mr Morton has also advised farmers that there will be a need to be on the look out for Barbers Pole worm activity.
“The recent rain could see an incidence of Barbers Pole worm and of course blowfly activity will remain very high,” said Mr Morton.
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