Disease strikes cattle : It's FMD, says Veterinary Director
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 14 2020: The unknown disease which has infected cattle is some areas of Churachandpur district has been confirmed to be Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), stated Veterinary and Animal Husbandry (V&AH) Services Director Dr H Chaoba.

Speaking to media persons at his Sanjenthong office today, Dr H Chaoba said that reports were received on April 7 and 8 about an unknown disease striking cattle at Thingkhanphai village of Churachandpur district and surrounding villages.

On receiving the reports, a team led by V&AH Services, Churachandpur Joint Director went to the villages and collected samples from the infected cattle.

After the samples were tested in the laboratory, the unknown disease has been confirmed to be FMD, Dr Chaoba said.

Veterinary and Animal Husbandry (V&AH) Services Director Dr H Chaoba

Although four calves have succumbed to the disease, infected cattle of Thingkhanphai and surrounding villages have been treated while uninfected cattle have been vaccinated, he said.

There were also reports about outbreak of FMD at Maphou Kuki village of Kangpokpi district and surrounding villages.

As a team of veterinary officials went to the area, two cows were suffering from the disease.

Another team of officials had visited Sora, Khangabok and Moijing in Thoubal district as there were reports about outbreak of the same disease at these places too, Dr Chaoba said.

The V&AH Services Director said that FMD is caused by a type of virus which can be transmitted through air.

Generally, FMD cases are more common during spring season but it can also infect cattle during winter and summer as well.

In the past, FMD outbreaks were often extensive but since the past 3/4 years, the disease was reported only from a few places at a time, Dr Chaoba said.

Calves infected by FMD suffer from fever, sore mouth and tongue and acute pain in legs and they may ultimately succumb to the disease.

Even FMD cannot kill matured cattle, infected cows produce little milk and they become unfit for use in agricultural purposes, said the V&AH Services Director.

The country's total milk productivity is reduced by 30 per cent due to FMD.

Vaccination against FMD is a part of the National Animal Diseases Control Programme which was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 11.FMD vaccination should be done twice in a year.

If any farmer is saying that their cattle are suffering from FMD even after vaccination, then the vaccination must have been done only once in a year or the vaccination was done after the cattle have been already infected, he continued.

Even though mass vaccination programme has been suspended presently on account of the lockdown triggered by COVID-19 pandemic, farmers may bring their cattle to Veterinary Hospital, Sanjenthong and other dispensaries for vaccination against FMD but they must adhere to social distancing norms while coming for vaccination, Dr Chaoba said.

As with all other economic sectors, cattle and poultry farming too has been severely affected by the lockdown.

Nonetheless, advisories issued by the Central and State Governments, V&AH Services is listed among essential services and transportation/sale of fodder and poultry feeds are permitted during the lockdown, claimed the Director.

The Directorate of V&AH has already engaged some local agents/firms for delivering fodder and feeds to farmers either at their home or farms, Dr Chaoba said.

He then appealed to security personnel to relax the lockdown for V&AH Services staff.

Manipur Milk Producers' Cooperative Union (MMPCU) Ltd managing director Dr Ng Ibotombi who was also present at the press meet said that MMPCU Ltd has been supplying pasteurised milk, ghee, sana and cream to the public from Central Dairy Plant, Porompat.

As the double-layered polythene/polyfilm embossed with the brand name 'Chumthang' ran out of stock, milk was packed in polythene printed with the word 'Sangom'.

As such, there was no difference in the quality of milk sold under Chumthang and Sangom, Dr Ibotombi said.

With its staff working under a roster system, the dairy plant has been continuously producing milk and other dairy items during the lockdown in the interest of public and dairy farmers, he said.

There was no question of violation of guidelines laid down by the FSSAI for the brand name 'Sangom' has been already approved by the same authority, he claimed.