Itanagar, As many as 267 mithuns have died in Arunachal Pradesh’s Dibang Valley district in the last two months, while 1,402 animals have been affected by Foot-and-Mouth Disease , officials said on Monday.
The disease was first reported in the district during the last week of July, according to district Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Officer Dr Dammo Riba. Laboratory tests conducted by the National Institute of Foot and Mouth Disease , Odisha, subsequently confirmed that the outbreak was caused by FMD serotype ‘O’. Following reports of mithun mortality, veterinary teams were deployed with medicines and sample-collection kits, while a subject-expert team from the Centre visited the affected areas. At present, a four-member rapid response team , along with local veterinary personnel, is carrying out treatment, surveillance and awareness activities in the affected areas. Dr Riba appreciated the state government and the Directorate of Animal Husbandry, Veterinary & Dairy Development for providing additional manpower and adequate medicines to strengthen the district’s response to the outbreak. FMD is a highly contagious viral disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals, including mithuns and cattle.
The disease has so far been reported in 21 villages of the district, with veterinary authorities intensifying treatment, surveillance and preventive measures to contain the outbreak, they said.
