Kodagu Deputy Commissioner Venkat Raja after presiding over a preliminary meeting regarding the foot-and-mouth disease vaccination campaign which was held at his office hall informed that the 7th round of foot-and-mouth disease vaccination campaign will start from April 26th to next 45 days and instructed to make necessary preparations for this work.
Speaking on the occasion DC said that, this is a national program and everyone should take care about the protection of livestock. The Deputy Commissioner directed to work towards 100% success in that regard.
Everyone should take the lead in controlling foot-and-mouth disease, which causes financial hardship to farmers. The Deputy Commissioner advised to carry out a vaccination campaign for livestock as per the government’s directives.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Lingaraj Doddamani, Deputy Director of the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Department, said that foot-and-mouth disease is a contagious disease caused by a virus and that foot-and-mouth disease can be controlled by vaccination. Foot-and-mouth disease is a fatal disease that affects cattle, bulls, cows, buffaloes and pigs, and the aim of the campaign is to prevent it.
Vaccinating cattle and buffaloes at least twice a year can prevent the disease. In this regard, all calves above three months of age should be vaccinated once and then a booster vaccination should be given again within 3 to 5 weeks. Similarly, pregnant cows and buffaloes should also be vaccinated without fail.
The Deputy Director of the Animal Husbandry Department further appealed that all cattle should be vaccinated without fail in the mass vaccination program to be carried out once every 6 months, regardless of how many times they have been vaccinated in the past.
‘Vaccination is the only way to control foot-and-mouth disease. The disease can be prevented by getting cattle vaccinated against it every 6 months. As per the 20th livestock census, the number of cattle and buffaloes in the district is 76,920 and the target is to vaccinate the cattle. All preparations have already been made for the vaccination program, and 75 vaccinators will go to the houses of farmers/cattle owners and vaccinate them, he informed.
The vaccination is completely free and there is no charge. This is a national program, and he requested the vaccinators to cooperate when they come to the houses of the cattle owners and vaccinate all the cattle/buffaloes above 4 months of age.
For more information, you can contact Assistant Director, Veterinary Hospital, Madikeri 9448647276, Assistant Director, Veterinary Hospital, Somwarpet 9980360200, Assistant Director, Veterinary Hospital, Virajpet 9901303996, Assistant Director, Veterinary Hospital, Kushalnagar 9448422269 and Assistant Director, Veterinary Hospital, Ponnampet 9740556311, explained Lingaraj Doddamani.
Polyclinic Deputy Director Dr. Thimmaiah, Nodal Officer Dr. Shilpa, Taluk Veterinary Officers Dr. Prasanna, Dr. Rajashekar, Dr. Girish, Dr. Naveen, Dr. Shinde, Dr. Sharath of the Mobile Veterinary Unit, Dr. Rupesh Kumar, General Manager of Hassan KMF and others were present. On this occasion, Deputy Commissioner Venkat Raja released a poster.
This disease is likely to appear in all cloven-hoofed animals including cattle, buffalo, goat, sheep, pigs. It is a disease that causes immense economic loss to farmers so every cattle owners must vaccinate to prevent spread of foot-and-mouth disease.
