The North Australian Veterinary Group in Cloncurry provided detailed information on prevention of diseases to landholders and their stock in an email distributed to clients last week, 

Veterinarian Trevor Smith said there was a lot of things be vigilant of in the aftermath of the flood.

“The first thing graziers need to be aware off is personal safety – looking after yourself and the people around you with up to date Tetanus and Q Fever vaccinations,” Mr Smith said.

“There are a lot of diseases in wet soil – we have see that in Townsville post flooding, so certainly personal protective equipment including disposable gloves and masks are needed if you’re hands on with carcasses but try and use machinery where possible.”

Cattle that managed to survive the floods could still experience sickness and loss of life, he said.

“Cattle will most likely experience some respiratory diseases. If we can access we can medicate, however for most of the cattle that are already on the ground in the paddock the disease process has progressed too far,” he said.

“We could also see Three Day Sickness which is a virus spread by mosquitoes and midges that causes high body temperature and sore joints. It normally passes very quickly but sometimes the condition can continue for 10-14 days.

“Generally the heavier kind of animals are affected but this scenario at present with a larger number of weak cattle coming out of the flood, we could see greater losses.”

SEE ALSO: Queensland Health issues health advice for carcass removal

Mr Smith said horses could also experience disease and infections.

‘Graziers need to be aware of hoof abscesses, seedy toe, rain scald and swamp cancers,” he said.

“Also the midges and mosquitoes will send horses crazy for a while so try to use fly veils and rugs where possible and there are a number of different sprays that can be purchased to help prevent bites.

“People are welcome to contact us and we can email them the fact sheet with a lot of information on it covering most of the common cattle and horse diseases.”

Mr Smith said the Cloncurry vets were fielding a lot of calls from across the region trying to assist isolated landholders but also from people down south looking to help, whether it be through services or drugs.

“In the early days after the flood, it was a juggling act with the issue of cut roads and trying to get in urgent supplies and then distribute them to affected landholders,” he said.

“It was extremely difficult trying to get refrigerated drugs in and out so we had to chop and change and come up with Plan B, C, D to get drugs in.”

With some roads reopened the North Australian Veterinary Group is restocking and working to deliver drugs out to landholders.

Local helicopter contractors and pilots have assisted in the delivery chartering supplies to isolated properties.

If you need information or support you can contact the North Australian Veterinary Group on info@navg.com.au or (07) 4742 1254.

READ MORE: Baby wallaby bounces back to recovery after saved from floodwaters.

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