Cattle in Catawba County, North Carolina, are experiencing the worst year for pinkeye ever, according to North Carolina State University Extension agent Glenn Detweiler. He references late rains and fly populations as part of a perfect storm for pinkeye infections.
Source: Hickory Record, August 17, 2018. Link.
The group called face flies seem harmless since they do not bite the animal for blood and feed only on mucus. However, they carry the bacteria that produces pink eye. With the late rains this year, flies are prevalent. The rains also came just as the fescue pastures were putting up stems and producing seed heads, which increases the danger of eyes being scratched.
INSIGHTS: With pinkeye’s tendency to flair in the fall, now is a good time to discuss vaccination with producers. AHD Sponsor Addison Biological Laboratory has two strains of pinkeye available for protecting against the expression of disease. See: Pinkeye cofactors reprint, AHD, June 24, 2018. Link.