Published Date: 2024-03-18 22:16:40 GMT
Subject: PRO/AH/EDR> Foot & mouth disease - India (02): (UP) cattle
Archive Number: 20240318.8715474
FOOT & MOUTH DISEASE - INDIA (02): (UTTAR PRADESH) CATTLE
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Date: Sat 16 Mar 2024
Source: The Times of India [edited]
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/fmd-disease-affects-60-per-cent-milch-cattle-in-pilibhit/articleshow/108552270.cms#google_vignette
The foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) has affected around 60% milch cattle in Pilibhit district. Besides, stray cattle are also at the risk of being infected with the highly contagious disease.
In order to control the disease, the animal husbandry department has arranged over 3 lakh [300 000] vaccines, officials said. As per the official figures, the dairy owners and agricultural farmers in Pilibhit district are in possession of over 3.5 lakh [350 000] cows and buffaloes.
According to veterinary scientists, the infection can be transmitted to humans by consuming raw or pasteurised milk of the infected cattle. ["FMD is not considered a public health problem." See the comments below. - Mod.PKB]
BR Singh, head of epidemiology division at Bareilly-based Indian Institute of Veterinary Research, said, "The infection can easily be transmitted to those milking the cattle as they come in direct contact with the infected animals. Raw or pasteurised milk of the infected cattle could also be a potential way of infection getting transmitted to humans, although it is not fatal."
"The FMD is an airborne viral disease which can transmit to other animals by licking. The vaccination will be administered to those cattle which have not been infected yet. The ones impacted by the virus may take a fortnight to recover with proper medication. The milk-producing capacity of the affected cattle gradually reduces to zero," said Dr Laxmi Prasad, deputy chief veterinary officer at Pilibhit.
"Veterinarians of 16 hospitals in the district have been directed to participate in the vaccination drive, which is being conducted at the hospital campuses apart from door-to-door visits to dairy farms. Private vaccinators and para-veterinary workers have also been deployed to provide assistance," said Dr Arvind Garg, chief veterinary officer.
Meanwhile, dairy keepers in Pilibhit city, said, "Had the animal husbandry department initiated the vaccination drive in time, our cattle could have been saved." They also claimed that "since the govt veterinary hospitals are not providing proper treatment to the affected cattle, they were forced to visit private veterinarians who charge hefty amounts.
[Byline: Keshav Agarwal]
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["Pilibhit district is one of the 75 districts in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India, and Pilibhit city is the district headquarters" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilibhit_district).
As indicated in the news report above, foot-and-mouth (FMD) disease has broken out in the district, affecting around 60% of the dairy cows. There is no clear information in the article on when the affected cattle populations in the area were vaccinated for the last time. Under the National Animal Disease Control Program (NADCP) of India, initiated in 2019 for control of FMD and brucellosis, 100% of the cattle population is expected to be vaccinated timely against FMD (https://dahd.nic.in/schemes/programmes/nadcp). Any cattle populations susceptible to FMD in an FMD-endemic country like India should ideally be vaccinated twice a year with a 6-month interval between the 2 doses.
"People can act as mechanical vectors of FMD by carrying virus on clothing or skin. However, FMD is not considered a public health problem" (https://www.msdvetmanual.com/generalized-conditions/foot-and-mouth-disease/foot-and-mouth-disease-in-animals).
"FMD is considered a negligible zoonotic risk" (https://www.woah.org/fileadmin/Home/fr/Health_standards/tahm/3.01.08_FMD.pdf). - Mod.PKB
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Uttar Pradesh State, India: https://promedmail.org/promed-post?place=8715474,322]