Cattleheads still vulnerable to Black Quarter Ample stock of anti-BQ vaccines in hand
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 18 2012:
Even as the State Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department has been constantly vaccinating cattle to check BQ (Black Quarter), cattle in Manipur are still vulnerable to the disease.
It may mentioned that there were reports of cattle dying due to an outbreak of the disease at Ngairangbam of Imphal West district in the last week of March.
Speaking to The Sangai Express, Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department Director Th Jiban said the State now has ample stock of anti-BQ vaccines.
Informing that the disease mainly spreads in the beginning of March every year, Th Jiban contended that cattle are still vulnerable to BQ virus although the Department has been putting in effort to control spread of the disease.
He added that Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fishery of Union Ministry of Agriculture has provided necessary quantity of anti-BQ vaccines to the State.
These vaccines have been handed over to authorities concerned of the districts to conduct mass vaccination programmes, Th Jiban added.
The Director said that anti-BQ vaccines, manufactured by Institute of Health and Veterinary Biological Science, West Bengal is now being stocked at the Department since April 12 for distribution to different parts of the State.
Haemorchagic Septice-mea, another disease prevalent among cattle spread at Lilong Shamumakhong in March, he said and adding that it was however controlled with timely intervention from the Department.
Informing that fever, inability to walk, loss of appetite and developing boils on different parts of the cattle's body are the symptoms of BQ, the Director urged the farmers to immediately consult nearby Veterinary office, Field Assistant or Veterinary Hospital, Sanjenthong if these symptoms are witnessed in their cattle.
As BQ spreads easily from one cattle to another, cattle which die of BQ must be properly buried.
The area must be sanitised with lime, he added.
The Director said that the main reason for fast and easy spread of BQ in Manipur is consumption of fodder which contains BQ virus in the form of blood and tissue left behind by infected cattle.
The Director maintained the State Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department and cattle owners must equally put in effort together to check the disease.