Tarun Karthick
Campbell Bay, 02 December 2024
The 30th round of the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) Vaccination Program, organized by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services (AH&VS), commenced on 1st December 2024 in South Andaman under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP).
This extensive vaccination drive aims to protect cattle and buffaloes from FMD, a contagious viral disease. The initiative includes not only the vaccination but also the ear-tagging of animals and their registration in the Bharat Pashudhan Portal. A total of 10 specialised vaccination teams, led by a Senior Veterinary Officer and comprising vaccinators and animal handlers, have been deployed for this task.
The vaccination teams will be visiting villages across South Andaman to carry out the vaccinations. Past rounds of the vaccination program have been highly successful in controlling the spread of FMD, and there have been no reported cases of the disease in the islands since 2005.
The Department has urged all livestock owners to cooperate by ensuring their animals are vaccinated and ear-tagged. This will contribute to the ongoing efforts to keep the islands FMD-free. The vaccination not only shields animals from FMD but also improves the overall health and welfare of the entire livestock population.
Farmers and members of the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) have been called upon to support this vital initiative. Their participation is crucial for the success of the program and for safeguarding the health of both livestock and communities in the region.