The Food and Veterinary Agency (FVA) has, as of today, imposed a temporary ban on the import of cattle and cattle by-products (hides) from the Lombardy region in northern Italy.
According to the announcement, following the confirmation of an outbreak of lumpy skin disease, and based on the Veterinary Law and the reports from ADIS and WOAH, the FVA has issued this temporary ban to prevent the spread of the disease in Kosovo.
“Border control authorities are obliged to take all necessary measures to enforce the import ban order in order to protect the health of animals in Kosovo,” the FVA statement reads.
The FVA explains that lumpy skin disease is a viral disease affecting cattle, characterized by typical nodules or lumps on the skin. It is transmitted by biting insects that are most active during late spring, summer, and early autumn. The disease does not affect other types of domestic animals besides cattle (cows, buffaloes).
According to the FVA, this disease does not affect humans and therefore does not pose a risk to human health. The FVA states it has adequate human resources and response capacity in place, as the disease was first detected in Kosovo in 2016. Since then, active efforts have been maintained to keep capacities updated with the most effective methods for combating the disease.
“There is currently no risk, but we will remain actively monitoring the situation regarding the spread of the disease,” the announcement concludes.
