Dealing with foot-and-mouth disease practiced in the canton of Aargau
Published: Tuesday, Aug 27th 2024, 17:00
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Experts held an animal disease exercise at the Liebegg Agricultural Center in Gränichen AG. They rehearsed the killing and disposal of infected cattle and pigs. The aim was to prevent the spread of the disease.
Tuesday's exercise was led by the Aargau Veterinary Service. A "red zone" was marked out with adhesive tape around the cattle shed at the Liebegg Agricultural Center. Inside, men in protective suits, rubber boots and protective masks set up a fencing system next to the outside of the barn.
"Foot-and-mouth disease is the absolute horror disease", said cantonal vet Barbara Thür. The animal disease, which last broke out in Aargau in 1969, is so devastating because it affects many different animal species. It is not contagious for humans. The protective clothing is intended to prevent the spread of the disease.
During the exercise, one cow after another was driven out of the barn and restrained in a grid compartment. One member of the "animal handling team" then marked the forehead of the cattle with red paint, while another employee simulated stunning with a captive bolt pistol.
Vet checks every animal
Instead of letting the animal bleed to death, a plastic rod about one meter long would be pushed through the forehead and into the cow's brain and spinal cord to kill it. Afterwards, a vet would have to verify death, explained Thür.
The carcasses were then loaded into the container of a disposal company. During the exercise, the truck driver got out to explain how to load the roll-off container. In an emergency, he would have to give the instructions from the driver's cab by telephone, said the cantonal vet.
Disaster operation
Also present were representatives of the Cantonal Disaster Response Unit (KKE), which would support the veterinary service and an external company tasked with killing the animals in the event of an animal epidemic. The KKE would also be responsible for disinfecting a barn after an outbreak.
"Other cantons work together with large abattoirs in cases of epidemics," said Thür. As there are no longer any in Aargau, the canton has concluded a contract with a specialized company.
The killing of pigs was also practiced on Tuesday. The pigs are stunned with electric tongs that are applied to the head. In a second step, the pig is killed with an electric shock to the heart.
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