FMD breaks out in over dozen districts

KATHMANDU, June 25: Outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD)- a viral ailment - have been recorded in livestock in more than a dozen districts with the beginning of the hot season and increasing movement of animals. Officials said FMD, which is also called hoof-and-mouth disease, is gripping different districts from the Himalayan district of Manang to far eastern districts like Ilam and districts in western Nepal. [break]



“With the soaring mercury levels reports of FDM cases have been pouring in for the last couple of weeks. Even districts with a cold climate such as Manang are witnessing the disease,” Baikuntha Parajuli, head of the Animal Health Directorate, told myrepublica.com.



“We have been receiving applications from farmers to extend them support to control the disease.”



With reports of the outbreak still trickling in, the exact number of infected animals is unknown.



Parajuli said FDM - or Aphtae epizooticae in scientific parlance - is a highly contagious and sometimes fatal viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals including domestic animals such as cow, bull, water buffalo, sheep, goat and pig as well as animals in the wild like antelope and bison.



“As herds of domestic animals are moving upward from lowland pastures with the onset of the hot season, such animals are acting as carriers of the disease,” Parajuli added.



The disease is characterized by high fever that declines rapidly after two or three days, blisters inside the mouth that lead to excessive secretion of stringy or foamy saliva and to drooling, and blisters on the feet that may rupture and cause lameness.



Veterinarians also said an infected adult animals may suffer weight loss from which they do not recover for several months, and in the case of cows milk production can decline significantly.



However, he said the directorate has been delivering necessary antibiotics to the affected districts in addition to technical support to control the disease.



Though the fatal disease occurred in the past also, the government has failed to formulate any concrete program to fight it.



“We had devised a plan a few years ago to combat the disease with some suggestions including massive vaccinations in dairy pocket areas and restriction on the movement of animals in the disease outbreak season.



"However, the plan is collecting dust due to lack of interest in coming up with a special plan against the disease,” added Parajuli.

Related story

Prohibitory orders enforced in 25 districts as COVID-19 cases s...