Ranipet IVPM to release improved FMD vaccine soon

RANIPET: According to sources, the Animal Husbandry department will conduct special camps to vaccinate livestock, especially cows owned by farmers, for 21 days from February 7.

This follows the current batch of the vaccine reportedly creating problems in animals, official sources said. A similar FMD outbreak three years ago that was caused by a morphed strain of the FMD virus near Ponnai adjacent to Ranipet SIPCOT resulted in fatalities, affecting farmers, they added.

While the disease is said to be prevalent across the district, it is especially noticeable in Wallajahpet taluk, Tamil Nadu Farmers Association district president K Raja said. “The affected animals drool spittle and foams at the mouth, while ulcers in the legs and hooves are developed once it lies down as it has no inclination to get up,” he said, adding that milk yield also gets affected.

Further, department sources said that farmers are now reluctant to vaccinate their animals twice a year as after being administered with it, the animal would not reportedly provide milk for nearly a fortnight. “It is very hard to convince farmers on the danger of the disease spreading as they feel it is not a major disease, as it does not lead to death. This is especially true if the cow is pregnant, as for farmers, it is an excuse not to vaccinate the animal.”

Commenting on the issue, farmer Raja of Palleri village in Wallajahpet taluk said, “The local government veterinarian has promised to conduct special camps. But it is the farmers who are to blame as they refuse to vaccinate the animal. The government should create awareness among farmers if the disease is not to spread as a cow which was vaccinated only once can still spread it as also a cow which gives birth when affected.”

The State is no stranger to the bovine disease as thousands of cattle had succumbed to FMD during a pan Tamil Nadu outbreak in 2013.