Copyright Rijana
Aujeszky's disease is a viral disease that is highly contagious for all porcine species.
Other animals can also become infected, such as dogs and cats.
The disease is harmless to humans.
Animals such as cattle, sheep, dogs and cats die from an infection with Aujeszky's disease. The symptoms in these animal species resemble rabies. That is why the disease is also called pseudorabies or mad itch in English-
The disease spreads easily when animals come into contact with each other (for example when infected animals are transported).
The disease can also be transmitted via indirect contacts, i.e. through dirty means of transport, through persons, animals or objects that have been in contact with infected animals and subsequently with uninfected animals.
Finally, Aujeszky's disease spreads over short distances, even through the air. Aujeszky has not occurred in the Netherlands for some years.
The disease is combated with a compulsory vaccination programme
(by regulation of the Product Boards for Livestock, Meat and Eggs).
But also for this disease the saying applies: "prevention is better than cure"
