Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 02 June 2025
The Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services (AH&VS), A&N Administration, is set to launch the 31st round (6th phase under NADCP) of the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) mass vaccination drive today. The campaign, under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme (LH&DCP), targets cattle and buffaloes across the villages of South Andaman.
As part of the initiative, 11 specialised vaccination teams have been constituted, comprising trained vaccinators, animal handlers, and led by Senior Veterinary Officers.
FMD is a highly contagious viral disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats, and pigs. The disease is characterized by high fever, mouth ulcers, excessive salivation, and painful hoof lesions, leading to reduced mobility and productivity. It spreads through direct contact with infected animals and indirectly through contaminated materials, vehicles, and human handlers.
Classified as a significant animal health threat by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), FMD can cause major economic losses through decreased milk production, slower growth, and infertility in livestock.
In this phase, around 9,000 animals are expected to be vaccinated. The Department of AH&VS has urged all livestock owners to extend full cooperation, ensure their animals are ear-tagged, and participate actively in the vaccination effort. The goal, officials emphasized, is to make the Andaman and Nicobar Islands free from FMD.