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Foot and Mouth disease outbreak triggers panic in western dists
They are the pride of farmers- the milch cows. Now their rich possession of cattle that gives a steady source of livelihood to farmers is falling prey to the dreaded Foot and Mouth disease (FMD).
By
migrator
migrator
Coimbatore
The FMD seems to have made a comeback after a gap of few years affecting hundreds of bovines in western Tamil Nadu. Many animals have already succumbed to the disease, triggering panic among the agrarian community.
Thousands of cattle succumbed to FMD during a pan Tamil Nadu outbreak last in the year 2013. But in the current spell, the disease has struck severely in the western region, more than anywhere else, and mainly in Erode district.
In order to curtail the spread of the contagious disease, the cattle shandies in Erode, Tirupur, Salem, Namakkal and Coimbatore districts have been temporarily shut by the respective district administrations. At least five shandies were closed in Erode, where FMD was reported first, a month ago and other neighbouring districts too followed suit.
According to C Nallasamy, secretary of Federation of Tamil Nadu Agricultural Association, “Trade of cattle worth several crores has been hit due to the widespread closure of shandies. Traders from across Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka throng these shandies to both sell and purchase cattle. But their closure is the best way to curtail the spread of this contagious disease. With such stringent steps, the FMD is slowly being brought under control.”
Official figures on animal deaths due to FMD may be in contrary to the ground reality, but farmers claim that the numbers could be staggeringly high in this season of the outbreak. “Three cows died of FMD in Erode district. Unfortunately, hundreds of animals, which were treated and cured for FMD, have died on a later stage due to improper post-treatment care by the farmers. Infact many bovines died of acidosis due to the feeding of gruel after getting cured for the disease,” said E Mariappan, Assistant Director, Disease Investigation Unit (DIU), Animal Husbandry Department in Erode district.
The Animal Husbandry Department claims that about 4,000 cattle were cured of FMD in Erode district over the last two months. “The death toll was rather higher, say in thousands, during the last outbreak in 2013. Ten per cent mortality is normal during every FMD outbreak as per the government’s standard norms,” he added.
Of the total 3,72, 800 cattle population in Erode district, the Animal Husbandry department claims to have vaccinated about 3.57 lakh bovines covering 96 per cent for FMD. Though the vaccine is administered twice a year, veterinary experts believe that the current outbreak has been caused by a new strain of the virus.
“There are about 64 strains of FMD virus in ‘O’ type prevalent across India. But the virus mutates periodically in about five years or so and we believe this to be a new strain. Around 130 samples collected from affected bovines have been sent for an analysis to the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) at Mukteshwar to investigate and identify the type of strain,” said E Mariappan.
The Animal Husband officials said that they have stepped up vigil and are reaching out to farmers to curtail the spread of the disease. The FMD may have come as a blow to the prospering diary industry, but farmers claimed that milk production hasn’t dipped, unlike during the previous outbreak.
“Increase in green pastures following rains has ensured enough fodder for cattle and an increased milk yield. Milk procurement by Aavin co-operative society has surged to 35 lakh litres per day from just 28 lakh litres two years ago. So there have been no issues due to enormous milk production,” said MG Rajendran, general secretary of Tamil Nadu Milk Producers Welfare Association.
The FMD may have caused a setback in revenue for farmers, but it has shown the goodness and the need to protect the dwindling native breeds of cattle.
“Curiously the native breeds of cattle like Kangayam cattle have survived the FMD attack due to their high immunity power. Whereas it’s the imported ones like Jersey, which are succumbing to the disease in large numbers,” said Ramasamy ‘Gounder’, a farmer from Erode and treasurer of Tamil Nadu Milk Producers Welfare Association.
Fever villain for cattle too
- Foot-and-mouth disease or hoof-and-mouth disease is an infectious viral disease. After three days of fever, the animals develop blisters inside the mouth and on feet, which may cripple or kill the animal
- Excessive salivation, increase in body temperature, formation of ulcer in gum pads and tongue, lesion in udder, foot and mouth are some of the symptoms
- FMD affected animal should be segregated immediately
- The infected animal should not be taken for grazing as the virus spreads through the air
- The person who handles the infected animal should keep away from other cattle to avoid spreading
- Calf fed by affected mother, may also die instantly
- Farmers should avoid buying or selling cows until the disease is eliminated entirely
- FMD vaccine is administered twice a year
- Cattle shandies in Coimbatore, Erode, Salem, Namakkal and Tirupur districts were closed to contain the spread of the disease
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