SHEEP FARMERS have been warned about the risks of picking up the serious skin disease, orf, from infected sheep.
The infection, which is caused by a virus, affects about 30 per cent of sheep flocks every year and can be a major problem at lambing time.
Maureen Prendergast, veterinary adviser with Schering Plough, warned that the virus can be transmitted to humans through direct contact with infected or seemingly normal sheep.
It enters the skin through cuts and abrasions and results in lesions on the hands, arms, face or other exposed skin areas.
"It is sometimes accompanied by a mild fever that lasts a few days. Most people suffering from orf can be effectively treated with antiseptics and antibiotics but where lesions are large, surgery or other procedures may have to be used," said Ms Prendergast.
In sheep, orf is highly infectious and is characterised by lesions on the lips, nose, ears, eyelids and sometimes on the feet. These lesions develop into thick, brown, growing scabs that bleed easily. Affected sheep are also prone to secondary bacterial infection.
"As immunity is not passed on through the ewe's colostrum, new-born lambs are particularly prone to infection. As any farmer who has suffered the ordeal will testify, an outbreak after lambing is an absolute nightmare," she said.
Ms Prendergast says that vaccination is the best method of controlling orf. While it cannot guarantee 100 per cent protection, it will reduce the severity and duration of outbreaks.
Lambs can be vaccinated at any time from two days of age. However, as the orf vaccine is "live", Ms Prendergast stresses that it should only be used on flocks that have already been infected.
"Farmers administering the vaccine should wear protective gloves and wash hands thoroughly afterwards. Any cuts or skin abrasions should be treated with disinfectant," she said.