The Animal Husbandry Department has constituted 18 more special squads to counter the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in the district.
The squads will be headed by veterinary doctors who will coordinate the preventive measures. This will be an addition to the already operational special squads at the panchayat-level to steer the vaccination drives.
Emergency squadsThree of the newly constituted squads will be reserved as emergency squads. The other 15 will function as mobile squads and extend their quick medical support to farmers at their doorstep.
K. Chandraprasad, officer in-charge of the preventive measures, said the department would be ready to constitute more such squads if it was found necessary in the intervention programmes.
“All arrangements have already been made at the veterinary hospitals in the district to treat the animals affected with the disease free of cost,” he added.
As part of the intensified vigil, the department has issued direction to all the local bodies to monitor the hygiene levels in slaughterhouses and the scientific treatment of slaughterhouse waste. The committees, formed at the grama panchayat-level, will look into the subject.
The direction also includes the strict administration of preventive vaccines on all cattle within two-kilometre radius of the affected areas. The buying and selling of livestock will also be discouraged as part of the preventive measures taken.
Consuming milk would not cause any health hazards, the official confirmed. To clarify doubts from public, the Animal Husbandry department also opened a control room at the district headquarters. The service of the control room will be available through the helpline-0495-2768166.
