PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Haldwani
The Animal Husbandry department is on alert mode following cases of Lumpy virus disease in livestock reported from several districts of Uttarakhand. To stop the spread of the infection, the movement of animals from one district to another and to other states has been banned for a month. Animal fairs have been banned, too. The vaccination and treatment drives have been intensified in the affected areas.
The chief veterinary officer, Nainital, Dr Rajiv Singh said that all veterinary officers in the district have been put on high alert. “A 135-member team of the department is travelling from village to village to examine, treat, and vaccinate animals. This includes 28 veterinary officers, 72 livestock extension officers, and 35 Pashu Mitras,” he informed.
He further said that special attention is being paid to the hotspot areas. “Areas with high incidences of lumpy disease are being identified as hotspots and they are being monitored closely. Health teams are reaching affected villages to educate livestock owners on how to prevent infection and administer free vaccinations,” he added.
The department appealed to livestock owners to immediately inform the nearest veterinary officer upon noticing high fever, skin lumps, loss of appetite or other unusual symptoms in their animals. They were also told that the infected animals should be kept separate from healthy ones while cleanliness must be ensured in the animal sheds.
Meanwhile, 65 para-veterinary employees in Nainital district staying away from work has added to the challenge for the department. “Things have become a little tougher as we now need extra manpower to combat things. However, we are trying to ensure that vaccination and treatment are not affected. We are deploying veterinarians, livestock extension officers and Pashu Mitras in full strength,” said a senior district Animal Husbandry department officer.
