'Animal disease outbreaks contained'
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 28 2019: Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Services Director Dr H Chaoba has claimed that the diseases which killed and affected livestocks in some parts of the State recently have been contained.

Speaking to media persons at his Sanjenthong office this afternoon, Dr Chaoba said that some cattle were killed by Black Quarter (BQ) at Kumbi, Wangoo and Kha-Potsangbam of Bishnupur while some buffaloes died due to Haermorrahagic Septicaemia (HS) at Nurathel, Tamenglong district.

Some poultry birds were killed at Kamjong following the outbreak of a disease but all these diseases have been contained now, claimed the Director.

Saying that there is no need for farmers to be worried about possible shortage of vaccines, Dr Chaoba informed that different vaccines are available abundantly in the department's cold chain system.

Maintaining that animals are being vaccinated as a routine, he appealed to all the farmers to get their livestock and poultry birds vaccinated regularly.

The department has been making necessary arrangements to develop cold chain systems at district headquarters and take the vaccines to all districts.

Although there were reports of outbreak of animal diseases recently, the incidence of outbreak of such diseases has declined considerably as compared to four/five years back.

Asking people to inform the directorate if they suspect outbreak of any animal disease, Dr Chaoba said that the directorate is fully prepared to face any such situation.

Even though rearing livestocks and poultry birds is not a new trade, farmers need to be acquainted with the changing situation and the ever growing science and technology, he said.

If livestocks and poultry birds are not healthy, they may become a threat to human health.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has already identified around 500 zoonotic health problems which are transmitted from animals to mankind, he continued.

The vaccines stocked by the department are for fighting BQ, HS, Food & Mouth Disease and Brucella Abortus, Dr Chaoba informed.

Moreover, there are adequate stocks of anti-Rabies vaccine for dogs, Swine Fever vaccine for pigs and vaccines for fighting Ranikhet, Fowl Cholera and Gamboro which commonly infect poultry birds.

The Director lamented that the State Veterinary hospital located at Sanjenthong, district veterinary hospitals and veterinary dispensaries located at different places are all in shabby conditions but they could not be renovated on account of the State's unsound financial condition.

Nonetheless, proposals have been sent to the Centre to renovate the veterinary hospitals and dispensaries under the Central Government's Establishment & Strengthening of Existing Veterinary Hospitals and Dispensaries.

There also proposals for establishment of some new veterinary dispensaries, he said.

He said that a high quality X-Ray machine and one ultrasound imaging machine would be installed at Sanjenthong Veterinary Hospital shortly.

Comment