Foot-and-mouth disease under control

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MARCH 19. The foot-and-mouth disease, a viral affliction among clove-footed animals, exists in parts of Haryana and Punjab, but is reported to be under control.

It is a seasonal disease, and is kept under check by inoculating the affected animal twice a year. It causes mouth ulcers and viral fever and lowers milk yield.

An outbreak of this disease has caused panic in the United Kingdom, and several affected animals have been put to death.

The disease is caused by seven types of viruses: `O', `A', `C', Asia-1, SAT-1, SAT-2 and SAT-3. The SAT type does not exist in India. The four other types have not been reported for more than last three years. Only the `O' strain was reported in parts of north India. Though the so-called PAN Asia virus type `O' was isolated in 1990, a similar strain has been isolated in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Taiwan, China, Korea and Japan.

The disease can be transmitted through infected bedding, meat, milk semen, water, human beings and wind. The spread of the virus, therefore, takes its own course under different conditions, mostly related with trade, animal movement and disposal of wastes.

According to the Department of Animal Husbandry, death of 11 head of cattle in Haryana's Rewari district in February this year was not due to this disease, but was caused by haemorrhagic septicaemia. The State Government has been asked to be more vigilant.

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