The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is advising farmers on higher risk farms to take measures to prevent facial eczema. The recent warm humid conditions are likely to mean the start of the main risk period for facial eczema in many districts, especially if the weather conditions continue for several days. Counts taken before this rain were already starting to indicate an upward trend, particularly in some parts of Northland, Auckland, Bay of Plenty and Waikato. Serum GGT levels indicate a low level of facial eczema liver damage, although some cases of photosensitivity, probably not due to facial eczema, have been reported from the southern North Island. Dr Wayne Ricketts, of MAF Biosecurity Authority's Animal Welfare Group, says that along with putting preventative measures in place, farmers need to think about how best to deal with those animals which do succumb to the disease, as some inevitably will.
Facial eczema can severely compromise animal welfare.
The most visible signs of facial eczema are inflammatory, and often infected skin lesions on those parts of the body that have the least protection from hair or wool - typically around the ears, eyes, nose and mouth, the udder, and occasionally the vulva. The lesions cause extreme irritation that can lead animals to rub and scratch. Photosensitivity will also cause affected animals to seek relief in the shade. Any such signs, and stock will immediately need to be moved to toxin-free crops or pasture, or to yards where they can be fed on hay and such supplements as are advised by the local veterinarian. Dealing with the irritation and skin damage is important.