Livestock Manage To Control Foot And Mouth Diseases (FMD) Of Cattle From South Punjab

Punjab Livestock Department in-collaboration with Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO- an UN body) have completely controlled Foot and Mouth Diseases (FMD) of animals in South Punjab.

MULTAN, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Jun, 2018 ) :Punjab Livestock Department in-collaboration with food and Agriculture Organization (FAO- an UN body) have completely controlled Foot and Mouth Diseases (FMD) of animals in South Punjab.

About 21 million doses of good quality vaccine have been inoculated in over 90 lacs cattle in eight districts and Cholistan, covering the whole population of large ruminants.

According to focal person on Livestock Multan Dr Majid, since vaccination, only nine outbreaks of FMD have been recorded in these districts. All these outbreaks were recorded in unvaccinated animals. Most importantly, the virus did not affect vaccinated animals, which is also success of the vaccination programme.

The vaccination campaign had been launched since April 2017. However, during the same period, a total of 340 cases of FMD outbreaks have been reported from the rest of whole Punjab.

Dr Majid added this is also be noted that in the same districts, the Livestock department had previously recorded 97 outbreaks during first three months (Jan-March) of Year 2017.

Previous data also showed very high prevalence of FMD in these districts, he said adding that it had been controlled completely.

Responding to a query, Dr Majid informed that cold supply chain system for vaccines delivery has been strengthened in these districts and every vaccinator had an access to equipment and material for the cold chain in his vicinity.

About training of officials, the focal person informed that 651 veterinarians and 1476 veterinary assistants have been trained in FMD epidemiology and control. In future, the training would also help them to perform control of other infectious disease with improved efficiency.

Dr Majid further added that nearly 26,000 farmers were also imparted training in nine districts of South Punjab.

About future plan, Dr Majid maintained that Livestock department has planned to develop FMD Control Zone in Southern Punjab.

"For this purpose, we planned to utilize the Satluj river belt as natural barrier. This area designated as FMD Control Zone would be further projected by a buffer zone, consisting of adjoining districts, " he said.

Similarly, the department would come up with other parameters for the establishment of disease free zone, observed Dr Majid.