Punjab floods: Livestock at risk of pathogen infection

Veterinarians have sounded the alarm over the heightened risk of infectious diseases among livestock, especially milch animals, as floodwaters recede across Punjab.

They fear harmful bacteria may also enter the milk supply as the cattle are exposed to water and fodder infected by pathogens. Hundreds of domesticated animals have perished in flood-ravaged Punjab, with close to 3.6 lakh livestock population affected due to the submergence of villages.

“Floods don’t just wash away homes and crops, they leave behind an invisible trail of pathogens,” said Dr Jatinder Paul Singh Gill, Vice-Chancellor of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) here.

“Animals are now vulnerable to a host of infections, from mastitis and babesiosis to tetanus and diarrhoea,” he added. Experts caution that milk may carry bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli, especially if animals suffer from udder infections due to compromise with hygiene during the milking of the cattle.

“Pasteurisation is non-negotiable right now,” said Dr Ravinder Singh Grewal, Director of Extension Education (GADVASU), stressing the need for the adoption of the food preservation processes.

He said only boiled or pasteurised milk should be consumed. “Unhygienic handling and environmental contamination can turn milk into a vehicle for disease,” he added. Dr Grewal recommends treating paddy straw with a mixture of water, molasses and urea to make it safe and nutritious for livestock. “Three-day sickness is rampant post-flood,” Dr. Grewal noted, adding that ticks could cause babesiosis while flies contribute to respiratory infections.To mitigate these risks, farmers have been advised to relocate livestock to dry and elevated areas while maintaining hygiene in sheds.