Ban on movement of equine animals after glanders outbreak

The Animal Husbandry Department has imposed a ban on the movement of equine animals, including horses, donkeys, and mules, from Hisar district after a mule in Sultanpur village was confirmed to be infected with glanders.

Dr Subhash Chandra Jangra, Deputy Director of the Animal Husbandry and Dairy Department, announced a complete prohibition on organising races, fairs, exhibitions, and games involving equine animals. Glanders is a serious and potentially fatal infectious disease that affects equines, presenting symptoms such as nasal bleeding, difficulty in breathing, body dryness, and skin boils. The disease poses a risk of spreading to other domestic animals as well.

Dr Nitin Virmani from the National Research Centre on Equines (NRCE) stated that following the discovery of the glanders case, authorities recommended euthanising the infected mule. In recent months, three cases of glanders have been reported — two in Hisar and one in Rohtak. Dr Virmani emphasised that there is no cure for glanders, and euthanasia is the only solution for infected animals. The Central government offers a compensation of Rs 25,000 to the owner of an infected animal, but the NRCE has recommended increasing this amount to Rs 75,000, a proposal currently awaiting approval.

To prevent further outbreaks, the Hisar district has been designated a controlled area, with heightened vigilance in place. According to NRCE officials, there were 70 cases of glanders reported last year, with the number of infections fluctuating over the years. Notably, the NRCE in Hisar is the only research centre focused on equines in the country and serves as the nodal centre for implementing the national action plan aimed at controlling and eradicating glanders, with a target date set for 2029.