SOFIA: Bulgarian authorities announced Monday that Penka, the cow who risked death by straying over the EU border, will not be put down after all.

“Laboratory analyses of the cow that spent 15 days in Serbia and crossed the border back (into Bulgaria) are negative for all the tested diseases,” Bulgaria’s Food Safety Agency announced Monday.

“She will not be killed and will return to her herd by the end of the week,” agency spokeswoman Ekaterina Stoilova confirmed to AFP. Penka’s plight went viral on social media and made headlines around the world after her owner Ivan Haralampiev, from the western village of Kopilovtsi, launched an appeal 10 days ago to save her.

The animal had wandered away from her herd near the western Bulgarian village of Mazarachevo on May 12 and spent more than two weeks in Serbia before local farmers identified her from her earmarks.

Penka then fell foul of strict EU rules on the import of live animals from third countries, which require extensive paperwork giving the animal a clean bill of health before it can enter the bloc. 

A relevant piece published earlier:

During the season of Eid-ul-Azha, the most preferred and exciting experience for children as well as adults is touching and petting the sacrificial animals particularly cows and goats. (Besides, many people in Pakistan are really keen on keeping farm animals as pets.)

On the contrary, people should be careful as many animals can diffuse microbes and harmful viruses. Such maladies are known as zoonotic diseases, which could wreak a number of ailments particularly skin itchiness and severe infections.

Zoonotic diseases can spread via air, direct contact, oral consumption and bug diffusion. Some of the most widespread cattle diseases are as follows:

CONGO VIRUS:

People can get this virus by Hyalomma tick bites or contact with infected animals. Although symptoms may vary from person to person, some of the most widespread warning signs of this chaos include flu, emotional bewilderment, violence, mood swings, temperature, flushed eyes and face, joint ache, nosebleeds, vomiting, black stools, upper belly pain because of puffy liver, kidney failure, breathing troubles, low blood pressure, fast heart rate and poor blood circulation. However, we can save ourselves via early diagnosis and proper treatment.

ANTHRAX:

It is a bacterial sickness triggered by Bacillus Anthracis, which produces spores that endure for years in the atmosphere. Cows, sheep, and goats are more prone to have anthrax. Some of the most common warning signs include the unexpected demise of animal, bleeding from the mouth, nose, and anus of animals. People can come out with this disease when the organism penetrates a cut on the skin or by breathing infected dust.

BRUCELLOSIS:

It influences the aptitude of animals to imitate. Humans can get this through contact with birthing tissues from contaminated animals or through consuming raw milk. Such animals may have poor hunger, mass loss, behavioral changes and lack of energy. Ailing people would show flu-like symptoms. If left untreated, it could be difficult to cure.

CRYPTOSPORIDIOSIS:

Campylobacter is a disease that diffuses through the stool of infected animals. People can get this by ingesting infected food, water or direct contact with impure stool. Usually affected animals do not show any symptoms of this malady. People with campylobacteriosis are likely to have diarrhea, cramping, bellyache

and

temperature. Besides, it could trigger fatal infections in newborns, expected ladies and people who have fragile immune structure.

DERMATOPHILOSIS:

Dermatophilosis is also called rain rot, lumpy wool, and strawberry foot rot. People can have this disease through direct contact with infected animal or biting insects. It causes sores in human that triggers ulcer and leads to blemishing.

ESCHERICHIA COLI:

It is a sort of microbes that is detected in the intestinal zones of animals.

Usually

people can get this disease by drinking unpasteurized milk and undercooked meat.  It can cause severe diseases among human. Such as abdominal spasms, bloody diarrhea, vomiting and blood in urine.

LEPTOSPIROSIS:

It is diffused among humans via urine and dung of infected animals. It is widespread in cows and goats. It causes fever, headache, chills, vomiting, skin rashes etc. If it does not get over timely, it could trigger kidney and liver failure.

RABIES:

Rabies is a fatal viral disease that is widespread in cows and goats. We should be careful because infected animals could transmit this disease through contact. Once you get infected with this disease, the cure is impossible.

RINGWORM:

Ringworm is a disease that infects skin, hair, and nails of animals. This ailment could affect the human body. People can break out in skin infections that trigger itchiness, reddishness, scaling, cracking of the skin or a ring-shaped rash. If the infection spreads through the scalp or beard, hair may fall out.

SALMONELLA:

Usually infected animal does not show any signs of this disease. This is too diffused among people through the contact with the animals. The consequences of this syndrome could be dangerous as it can trigger diarrhea, fever, vomiting and belly pain.

VESICULAR STOMATITIS:

Vesicular stomatitis is a virus that wreaks sores on the mouth and feet of infected animals. Flies or direct contact with contaminated animal spreads the ailment.  This could cause flu and trigger blisters on the mouth of the people (and on their hands rarely).

INFLUENZA:

It is diffused among human through cows.  High temperature, red running nose, aching throat, muscle aches, headache, coughing, and feeling exhausted are some of the symptoms of having flu.

PREVENTIVES WHILE HANDLING ANIMALS

People, particularly children, must wash their hands with anti-bacterial soap subsequent to the contact with farm animals or after touching stuff like buckets or further items used to give them food and water.

• Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not on hand.
• Wrap any lesions or cuts when contacting with animals.
• Keep away from bites, scratches, and kicks from them.
• Do not consume foods or drinks in the area that surrounds animals.
• Shun touching the mouth, eyes or nose ahead of washing your hands.
• Elders should keep an eye on kids and direct them to clean hands.
• Children under the age of 5 years should not be allowed to touch the animals.
• Cover yourself appropriately and wear masks and gloves when contacting animals.
•  Apply repellent lotions all over your hands, neck, and feet to keep you from bugs and ticks.
• Use protective sprays on your animals and clothes.
• Make sure to throw away the animal dung and clean the surroundings properly.

It is pertinent to mention here that we can come out with zoonotic diseases by consuming raw meat or milk. Therefore, experts here have stressed that cook the meat properly before ingesting it. By following the mentioned afore tips, we can get over the hazardous diseases, as we know that safety is better than cure! (Published on 1st September 2016)