Vet Varsity organizes Panel Discussion on Foot and Mouth Disease

Ludhiana, February 8, 2024: The Directorate of Extension Education, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana organized a Panel Discussion to create awareness against the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in dairy animals. Dr. Parkash Singh Brar, Director of Extension Education said that FMD is a highly contagious disease of cloven-footed animals, viz, cows, buffaloes, pigs, goats and sheep. Infectious diseases pose a serious challenge to the productivity of livestock and the University, Department of Animal Husbandry as well as Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratories must work in close association to control their spread, he added.

Dr. Rabindra Prasad Singh, Director, ICAR- Directorate of Foot and Mouth Disease, Bhubaneshwar in his address on control and prevention, elaborated the mode of spread of FMD in dairy animals along with effective strategies for its control. He emphasized that promoting herd immunity through biannual and high-density vaccination is a well-founded approach against incidence of FMD. Veterinarians and dairy farmers must ensure a booster dose of FMD vaccine in young animals as it increases their immunity manifolds as compared to single dose of the vaccine. Ring vaccination combined with restricted movement of livestock and humans can be exercised to contain the disease in case of an outbreak. Dr. Jajati K Mohapatra, Principal Scientist, ICAR- Directorate of FMD said that veterinarians must recognize and address the causes of respiratory infections which occur concurrently with FMD. He emphasized on strict biosecurity measures to be taken on dairy farms during the FMD outbreak. He added that use of soda ash solution for disinfection of the farm helps to contain the spread of the disease. Dr. Singh and Dr. Mohapatra explained that combined vaccine of FMD and Hemorrhagic Septicemia is equally effective as compared to using them separately. They added that next vaccination should be resumed after one month of the last case reported on a farm. Dr. S S Randhawa, discussed symptomatic treatment of animals already affected by the disease. Dr. J S Bedi, reiterated the importance of disease forecasting and warning for timely interventions to check disease outbreaks. Over 50 participants including Deputy Directors from Animal Husbandry Department, Punjab; Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Jalandhar and farmers participated in the discussion.