handling lamb with orf

downonthefarm

:eek:at the weekend i was playing with a pet lamb that had orf,didnt know it at the time,and only found out later its contagious to humans,just wondering does anybody know what the symptoms are n humans?

fanadman1

downonthefarm wrote: »

:eek:at the weekend i was playing with a pet lamb that had orf,didnt know it at the time,and only found out later its contagious to humans,just wondering does anybody know what the symptoms are n humans?

don't really know tbh but i have been working with lambs with orf my whole life and never got it id not be 2 worried untill u see something strange

downonthefarm

thanks my friend im covered in itchy lumps and was freaking out!!

tabby aspreme

A neighbour of mine got orf last year , it affected his neck mostly , he couldn't shave for a few months and grew a big red bushy beard, looked fairly rough. This lad has been around sheep for 40 + years.
Happy scratching

reilig

Mother got orf a few years ago on her hand and it spread to her arm. She was bottleing a pet lamb and he bit her finger. It was painful with repeated swelling. Lasted several months and she had several rounds of antibiotics!

Username John

Yeah, it can be nasty enough if you get it...

OP - do you have any cuts in your hands, as I think it needs a cut to get into your system. If you don't, and you washed your hands afterwards I think you should be ok.

downonthefarm

thank you all for the helpful replies.

iverjohnston

We had an outbreak of Orf about 15 years ago. Treated with little black capsules called "Orfoids" if I remember rightly. You had to shove them down the lambs throat. Usually wore a disposable glove, but you could still get a good bite, breaking the glove. Never contracted the disease, so must not be very communicable to humans.

Conmaicne Mara

Put out Himalayan Rock Salt at the first sign of Orf in your lambs.

Try it.

Two years in a row I've stopped it in it's tracks. It won't stop what we call "strawberry foot", but will limit and halt anything on the mouth. Didn't even separate out the two lambs that had it from the others. Get rid of all and any thistles and furze and anything else thorny.

Tried Ovaliods, and all manner of alcohol/disinfectant sprays to dry out scabs, even holistic treatments, none worked to any degree I'd call worthwhile. All that happens is the lambs and the farmer gets stressed out to ****, being gathered and treating.

I've had Orf a long time ago, sore weepy fecker of a lump. Tincture of iodine on it three times a day until it goes, keep it covered. Was gone in three weeks, got bit by a lamb, giving bolus without proper gun I think.