Tribune News Service

Moga, August 4

At least 35 head of milch cattle have died of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) at Dina Sahib village in Nihal Singh Wala subdivision of the district over the past one month, raising a question mark over the efficacy of the vaccination programme being carried out by the Punjab Government.

Calve deaths have not been accounted for by the Animal Husbandry Department, indicating the count may be much higher. Local officials said 50 animals were in a critical state and under medical supervision. A medical team had been deputed to examine the animals at Dina Sahib and adjoining villages.

Vaccination was being carried out and medicines were being provided to the affected animals, a local official of the district administration said.

A regional disease diagnostic laboratory of the Animal Husbandry Department had confirmed the presence of the FMD. However, samples would be sent to the International Centre for Foot and Mouth Disease (ICFMD), Bhubaneswar, for confirmation.

Meanwhile, locals have questioned the efficacy of the state government’s vaccination programme. The state government spends crores of rupees every year to prevent the disease.

Officials claimed they had administered doses of anti-FMD vaccination to at least 1.5 lakh animals under the National Animal Disease Control Programme in the district.

The vaccination drive was halted midway by the state government after random samples of a Hyderabad-based vaccine manufacturer failed quality tests. The state government has so far not notified the outbreak of the FMD as it was not widespread and limited to a specific area/village.

Foot-&-mouth disease vax drive under lens

• Locals have questioned the efficacy of the foot-and-mouth disease vaccine programme
• Officials claimed vaccine doses were administered to around 1.5 lakh animals in the district
• The drive was, however, halted after samples of a manufacturer failed quality tests