Farms shut down after discovery of bovine tuberculosis

A dairy farm in Limburg has been placed under quarantine after bovine tuberculosis was detected on the farm. In response, some 92 other farms that sell and trade animals with the dairy farmer have been blocked from business until TB tests can be done on all the animals.

To prevent the spread of infection, the farmer in question, Roger Indekeu (54) from Meeuwen, must kill all the animals on his farm.

“Even our two dogs must be put to sleep. We put our heart and soul into this work,” says Indekeu. He does not know how the disease arrived at his business.

Bovine tuberculosis is a bacterium that causes lesions in the respiratory system. It is transmittable to humans by drinking raw, unpasteurised milk. However, the the Federal Agency for Food Safety believes that risk of infection is low because near everyone drinks pasteurised milk and very few people came into contact with cattle from Meeuwen.

Photo courtest Ing Image