The distemper epidemic in Cernavoda has ended
An update on the distemper epidemic that hit the city of Cernavoda, Romania, in April.
200 dogs have been vaccinated against distemper in Cernavoda
We have vaccinated about 200 dogs against distemper in Cernavoda, Romania, the town where our shelter is located. We started by vaccinating the strays we monitor on the streets, protecting the individuals we know best and who we knew would allow us close enough to treat them. But we also identified the families who were most vulnerable and offered free vaccines for all their animals and pets.
200 dogs have been vaccinated against distemper in Cernavoda
Distemper is an infectious disease with a high mortality rate that mainly affects puppies. It is transmitted through the air or via contact with saliva, feces or the urine of infected individuals. The worst outbreak in years broke out in Cernavoda in mid-April 2023.
Read More: Distemper epidemic in Cernavoda. What we are doing to stem the spread of this disease
We immediately put a strict emergency protocol into effect that enabled us to keep the virus out of our shelter, where thankfully no infections were recorded.
Over successive weeks, we began vaccinating the stray and privately-owned dogs we monitor throughout the year. After about a month, we had already vaccinated more than 100 animals, and this number has since doubled.
The last death that was caused by distemper was recorded in July, but we continue to test every dog that comes to our clinic that could potentially present symptoms of the disease.
The distemper epidemic in Cernavoda has ended
We have distributed hundreds of information leaflets to the local residents, urging them to vaccinate their animals
It would therefore appear that the epidemic is now over. Over recent months, we have distributed hundreds of information leaflets to the local residents, urging them to vaccinate their animals and to consult a veterinarian should any symptoms appear.
However, the risk of recurrence remains dangerously high. When dogcatchers take animals off the streets they are actively encouraging the spread of diseases like distemper, a problem we have previously discussed in this article.
This is why we are staying vigilant, in the eventuality that we may experience a significant rise in cases again.