Vet varsity organises discussion over FMD

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Ludhiana, March 4

An expert panel discussion was organized by Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University on ‘foot and mouth disease’ (FMD) to discuss the strategies to combat its current outbreak in Punjab.

The panel discussion was started with the introductory address by Vice Chancellor Dr Inderjeet Singh. He emphasised the need for expert discussion on FMD, a transboundary viral disease affecting livestock. As the disease has knocked the livestock farms across the state of Punjab, it is correct time to get the right guidance from the national level experts on the virus and disease control approaches, he added.

Dr Rabindra Prasad Singh, Director, ICAR-National Institute on Foot and Mouth Disease, Bhubaneswar along with Dr JK Mohapatra were the expert speakers on the FMD panel discussion. Dr Singh stressed on maintenance of cold-chain during vaccination, vaccination in high-density livestock population till attainment of herd immunity, the need of strict biosecurity practices at farm level as some of the crucial determining factors to control the menace in the livestock herd. The discussion was supplemented by Dr Mohapatra regarding quality of FMD vaccines and routine seromonitoring to check the immunity status in vaccinated stock. He added that the shedding of the FMD virus in semen is to be checked till 3 months after the last outbreak of the virus case on the farm.

Dr Gursharanjit Singh Bedi, Director, Animal Husbandry Department, Punjab briefed about recent outbreaks of FMD across Punjab and preventive measures undertaken regarding ongoing menace of FMD in state.