Veterinary Director advocates timely vaccination of livestock
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 19 2013 : Reminding that preventive measure is the best line of defence against diseases, Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Director Dr Saidokhum Joute has strongly advocated timely vaccination of domestic animals to not only protect the livestock but also prevent infection of human beings with animal diseases.

Interacting with The Sangai Express at his office chamber, Dr Saidokhum urged all cattle rearers to shed off the concept that animals need medical treatment only after health problems develop.

Asking owners to immediately dispose the dead animals with compliance to prescribed guidelines, he also cautioned the general public that consuming meat of infected animals might lead to health complications.

Noting multiple benefits mankind had been reaping from bovines, particularly cows/bulls, he pointed out that Black Quarter and Haemorrhagia Septicaemia are two of the most common diseases of oxens with the former ailment caused due to excessive usage in ploughing fields.

Even though both the diseases are easily curable, inordinate delay in the treatment procedure would eventually prove disastrous to the owner, said the Director substanting explanation that timely preventive measures are the best solution.

Informing that a single dose of combined vaccination in a year is enough to protect the cattle from both diseases, the Director asked owners to vaccinate their cattle in between December and April as the diseases mostly infect animals during the monsoon.

Regarding Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) which normally infects during the winter and in some rare cases also in the summer, he cautioned that demise of the infected animal is eminent if the ailment is overlooked for the infected animal would become weak due to inability to consume food.

As no medicine has been developed to cure FMD the only way to protect the cattle is through timely vaccination, Dr Saidokhum maintained.

With regard to rabies in dogs, the Director listing fox/jackal and bat species as the chief carriers of the disease advised owners to vaccinate the most loyal animal with anti-rabies vaccine after a dog is three months old.

The vaccine may be administered once a year but vaccination every sixth month would be the best way to prevent the infection, he stated while explaining that an infected dog would either behave aggressively or remain unusually calm.

Inspite of its loyalty, dogs suffering from rabies are likely to attack even the owners, Dr Saidokhum explained.

As per official record of the Directorate of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry for the year 2010-11, a total of 2,88,200 cattle were administered FMD Trivalent vaccine; 3,24,200 provided BQ+HS combined vaccine and 1,01,950 administered swine fever vaccine.

The vaccination figure declined slightly in 2011-12 with a total of 2,83,000 cattle administered FMD Trivalent vaccine, 2,24,200 dosed with BQ+HS combined vaccine and 82,750 administered swine fever vaccine.

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