Srinagar, Jun 15:
The freak weather conditions that prevailed in valley for quite some time has
started showing its impact on livestock here in the shape of some reported
outbreaks of the disease in both migratory as well as the resident. The disease
eruption has been reported even in some vaccinated animals forcing the Animal
Husbandry Department to have it investigated thoroughly.
According to
Ravi Thusu, Secretary Animal Husbandry, the situation is under control. Talking
to Greater Kashmir he said that on receiving some reports of some sporadic
cases of eruption of the disease in cattle in Nowgam area in Srinagar the
department sounded an alert. A team of departmental officers comprising of a
Joint Director, two deputy directors and some junior officers had a recce of
Nowgam, Padshahi Bagh and Soiteng. The team found that out of 1105 cattle heads
resident in the area 840 stood vaccinated. The team found that the disease
had affected even some vaccinated cattle of course with lower intensity. There
have been a total mortality of 8 new born calves and a morbidity of nearly 25
to 30%. He said that department has pressed in to service teams from the
Institute of Animal Health and Biological Products to collect sera and other
morbid material from the affected animals besides summoning the departmental
Epidemiologist from Jammu, have the disease investigated through the Hissar
based Lab of All India Coordinated Project on FMD.
The department has taken some measures that
have started yielding results and God willing the disease will not be allowed
to take an epidemic form provided the farmers cooperate with the department,
hoped Thusu.
Sporadic cases
of the disease were also noticed in Srinagar suburbs like Pandach,
Buchpora, Wachi
in Pulwama, Arwani, Kharpora and Nowgam in Anantnag, Daphal in Machil
area and Lolab,
Kalaroos in Kupwara area. Some reports of the sporadic cases have also
come
from Tossamaidaan in Budgam. Timely measures taken by the department
has helped
in checking the further spread of the disease. There has been no report
of the disease outbreak in Homshalibugh of Islamabad district, a
spokesman of the department clarified here today.
The disease is
of economic importance and we need not to panic even in the face of an
outbreak, said Dr J L Mattoo, Joint Director IAH&BP, Zakura. The farmers
need to segregate the healthy animals from affected animals particularly the
newborn calves which are the most susceptible to the infection and usually
succumb to it, said Dr F A Kaloo, Dy Director from the department. He said that the department has traced the
infection roots to some migratory goats that move to highland pastures in
Kashmir from the Jammu region. These animals after moving long distances are
tired, have compromised immunity and add to it the freak weather conditions in
which they had to traverse the inhospitable terrain the animals therefore contracted
the infection and spread it to other animal species coming in contact on the
way. In the Nowgam case the local cattle contracted the infection from one of
the migratory sheep & Goat flocks which were stationed there for a few days
before moving ahead to highland pastures. Dr Bhupinder Singh, Director Animal
Husbandry told greater Kashmir that all the field formations of the department
have been alerted and asked to keep an eye on the livestock in their respective
areas and take necessary measures to control and contain the disease.
