Published Date: 2024-07-10 23:12:17 BST
Subject: PRO/AH/EDR> Foot & mouth disease - India (05): (JA) cattle, susp.
Archive Number: 20240710.8717489
FOOT & MOUTH DISEASE - INDIA (05): (JAMMU AND KASHMIR) CATTLE, SUSPECTED
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Date: Mon 8 Jul 2024 02:19 IST
Source: The Rising Kashmir [edited]
https://risingkashmir.com/foot-and-mouth-disease-like-outbreak-hits-cattlein-kargil-highlands/
The Animal Husbandry Department in Kargil has reported a significant outbreak of a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)-like illness affecting cattle in the highland pastures of Matayan, Pandarss, Minamarag, Omachikthang, and surrounding areas. The outbreak, ongoing for the past 3 weeks, has prompted an urgent response from the department, led by Dr. Mohd Amine, BVO Drass, despite severe manpower shortages.
Dr. Gulzar Hussain, Chief Animal Husbandry Officer (CAHO) Kargil, addressed the media, urging all cattle owners to visit their livestock in the affected pastures immediately. He emphasized that the absence of owners has been a major concern, as proper care and monitoring are crucial to prevent complications such as secondary infections and ensure the animals receive adequate feeding and overall care.
"The Animal Husbandry Department has been providing medical treatment for the past 3 weeks," said Dr. Hussain. "However, the overall well-being of the cattle depends on consistent monitoring and care by the owners. The department cannot assume responsibility for any loss of livestock due to a lack of owner supervision and care."
Dr. Hussain stressed that owner involvement is indispensable in preventing potential mortality and safeguarding livestock health. The department remains committed to supporting livestock owners through this challenging period, but it is essential that owners take immediate action and attend to their animals in the grazing sites.
[Byline: Umar Raina]
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[The clinical symptoms of foot-and-mouth (FMD) disease in cattle are very distinctive and include "...fever of (around) 40 deg C [104 deg F], followed by vesicular lesion development on the tongue, hard palate, dental pad, lips, gums, muzzle, coronary band, interdigital cleft, and teats in lactating cows. Acutely affected individuals may salivate profusely (drooling), stamp their feet, and prefer to lie down. Ruptured oral vesicles can coalesce and form erosions but heal rapidly, roughly 11 days after vesicle formation" (https://www.msdvetmanual.com/generalized-conditions/foot-and-mouth-disease/foot-and-mouth-disease-in-animals#Pathogenesis_v3272928).
FMD is endemic in India, and the best way to control the disease is to vaccinate the at-risk cattle populations. "Inactivated virus vaccines protect for only 4-6 months against the specific serotype(s) contained in the vaccine" (https://www.msdvetmanual.com/generalized-conditions/foot-and-mouth-disease/foot-and-mouth-disease-in-animals#Properties-of-Foot-and-Mouth-Disease-Virus_v53073798). - Mod.PKB
ProMED map of Jammu and Kashmir State, India: https://promedmail.org/promed-post?place=8717469,305]