Foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in TN, AP puts district on high alert

Mysuru: The highly contagious viral foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) has been noticed among cattle in the district especially in border regions like Nanjangud and Periyapatna taluks. As there is an outbreak of disease in the neighbouring states including Andra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, the authorities of animal husbandry are examining the cattle which are being transported into the district at border checkposts.
As per the records of animal husbandry and veterinary sciences, there are more than five lakh cattle in the district. Usually there will be an outbreak of the disease during winter season in December and January every year. The animal husbandry takes up vaccination of cattle for FMD twice a year, in June and January.
The department authorities have taken strict measures to prevent diseased cattle entering into Mysuru district from neighbouring states.
Speaking to TOI, animal husbandry and veterinary sciences deputy director N Ajith Kumar said that the disease is found among cattle in Nanjangud and Periyapatna taluks. “As there is an outbreak of the disease in in Tamil Nadu and Andra Pradesh, we have taken measures to vaccinate cattle which enter into the district through six check posts. Two veterinarians along with staff are posted at the check posts to examine and vaccinate the cattle,” he said.
The district authorities have already distributed vaccines to each taluk to prevent spread of the disease. The vaccination drive began on January 28 and will complete by February 15, covering five lakh cattle. “Vaccination is being provided to cattle free of cost. On the first day, 22,000 cattle and on the second day 23,000 cattle were vaccinated,” he said.
Nanjangud taluk veterinarian Manjunath told TOI that there are around 75,000 cattle in the taluk and every day the staff are administrating vaccine to around 12,000 cattle.