ITANAGAR, 14 Jun: The state government has directed the district administrations (DA) to immediately issue prohibitory orders, restricting inter-district and interstate movement of cattle, in view of the outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD).
It further directed the district administrations to maintain strict vigil, especially at all the interstate check gates and porous boundaries.
The directive has been issued after a review of the FMD situation in a meeting here on Tuesday.
The meeting, chaired by Animal Husbandry, Veterinary & Dairy Development (AHV&DD) Minister Tage Taki, was attended by AHV&DD Secretary Bidol Tayeng, AHV&DD Director SL Dirkhipa, and senior officers of the AHV&DD directorate. All the DAHVOs and DIOs of the state also participated in the meeting through the virtual mode.
FMD has broken out in at least seven districts, with Namsai, Lohit and Papum Pare being the worst affected, Tayeng said in a release.
Reportedly, many livestock died of the disease in the three worst-affected districts, he said.
During the meeting, the DAHVOs and the DIOs were directed to act proactively through their field functionaries and collect epidemiological information on the spread of the disease in the districts.
Presuming shortage of veterinary officers and paraveterinarians in the districts, direction has also been issued to generate proper awareness about the disease, and to take steps to prevent it with the help of the panchayat members, GBs and progressive farmers.
“There is no shortage of medicines in the department. Most of the districts have been provided adequate medicines to combat the outbreak of FMD,” the release said.
However, the districts with more requirements of medicines have been asked to collect them from the AHV&DD directorate, as per their need, it said.
The release further stated that FMD vaccines are being procured and are likely to reach the department shortly.
Tayeng also directed the DAHVOs and the DIOs to report the status of FMD outbreak every Friday to the directorate to evaluate the situation.
Taki urged all the field functionaries of the department to be more vigilant and proactive in monitoring and combating the disease.
