Cattle from Kerala screened for rat fever, says Minister

Speaking to media persons at Coimbatore International Airport, the Minister said that all precautionary measures are being taken to prevent the spread of rat fever in villages located on inter-state borders of the two states.

“Veterinary teams have been deployed in Coimbatore, Nilgiris, Tirunelveli and Kanniyakumari districts, that share borders with the neighbouring Kerala state. They screen all the livestock and administered injections before bringing them into Tamil Nadu,” he said. Further, the Minister said that the livestock brought into the state were already being vaccinated for foot and mouth disease.

“Livestock breeders and pet animal owners should maintain proper hygiene in their environment. Mobile veterinary clinics are involved in supplying medicines to livestock owners. Awareness has also been created among the public through veterinary clinics,” Radhakrishnan said. 

Stating that there was no incidence of rat fever reported in livestock in Tamil Nadu, the Minister said that Rs 50 lakh worth veterinary medicines have been sent to flood-ravaged Kerala to contain the spread of rat fever among livestock there.

Rat fever has already claimed the lives of two persons in Coimbatore. Sathish Kumar (32) from Kinathukadavu and Gandhimathi (52) from Avinashi had died of the deadly disease. They both reportedly got infected after a trip to Kerala, which has been reeling under a severe outbreak of the deadly disease following the devastating floods.

On the issue of rampant corruption charges against AIADMK ministers, the Minister termed the charges against Ministers SP Velumani and Thangamani as baseless. “They are performing well, but opposition parties are making false allegations out of jealousy,” he said.