The information that the public receives from competent authorities and institutions regarding the spread of Q fever is confused, contradictory and inconsistent, announced today Aleksandra Despotović, professor of the Biotechnical Faculty of the University of Montenegro (UCG) and MP of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) in Assembly of Montenegro.
"An attempt to minimize the damage that will occur due to untimely, unprofessional and irresponsible actions does not contribute to reassuring the public, but introduces new suspicion that this disease is out of control. The citizens were informed that there is a suspicion of the presence of the disease in 203 heads antibodies) while 9 of them were found to have the infection by a PCR test in their milk, other secretions or tissue analysis; then it was said that 59 cows with a positive PCR result or pronounced clinical symptoms have been euthanized so far, and that another seven cows are awaiting euthanasia and that will it be carried out immediately after receiving information from the municipalities of Nikšić and Danilovgrad about the secured location for harmless removal?! This information confuses even the experts, let alone the lay public, who can only conclude from such announced figures that something is being hidden from the citizens", she pointed out. said Despotović in a statement delivered by DPS.
She added that questions arise: When will we know if the PCR test is done for all cows that show clinical signs (and it is 203 as announced) or if it is calculated, since the statistics sound better if only 9 cows are sick? Also, what is the deadline for local governments to provide locations for disposal of euthanized animals? Will these locations be arbitrarily determined by the municipal services, so we will end up in a situation like we had in Župa Nikšićka, where a breeding ground for infection was created, or are there clear protocols on how this destruction will be carried out?
"In the days behind us, the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management and the Director of the Food Safety Administration dealt with the responsibilities of state and public institutions and transferred the responsibility for burying euthanized necks infected with Q fever from the state to the local level. This approach clearly indicates that the competent institutions are not ready waited for the appearance of Q fever, because if they had, the protocol would have been adopted not only at the local self-government level, but also at the state level. The problem was shifted to the agricultural producers, to whom the minister clearly said: 'If someone thinks they are making money, it is not fair.' level. This kind of responsibility cannot be avoided, the producers must be compensated," said Despotović.
She said that the relevant ministry should inform the public about further steps and provide an answer to the question of whether throat vaccination will be carried out and whether the Government plans to allocate money for the procurement of vaccines.
"And in the end, the least that the responsible holders of power at the state and local level should do is to resign for moral reasons, because they acted unprofessionally, incompetently and disinterestedly in the case of this problem that affects not only livestock farmers but also all citizens exposed to risk to get infected," concluded Despotović.
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