Classical Swine Fever (CSF), a highly contagious disease affecting pigs, was the highest reported animal disease in Kerala during the year 2014- 15.
Compared to the previous year, the disease showed a rising trend with 14 outbreaks, 578 attacks and 263 deaths. CSF was newly reported from Kottayam, Ernakulam and Wayanad districts, according to the annual report of the All India Coordinated Research Project on Animal Disease Monitoring and Surveillance. Haemorrhagic septicaemia was the top recorded bacterial disease in the State with 17 outbreaks, 52 attacks and 39 deaths.
Due to regular vaccination, the attack rate and case fatality rate were found lower than the previous year. Only three outbreaks of anthrax were reported in cattle and pig.
The report says anthrax had showed a declining trend in Kerala because of improved vaccination and better diagnostic facilities.
With eight outbreaks, 179 attacks and 53 deaths, Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) or ovine rinderpest was the second highest reported animal disease in the State.
Newly introduced goats from other areas were the source of infection in all the outbreaks.
For the first time, three sporadic outbreaks of swine pox were detected in Idukki, Kottayam and Thrissur districts.
Monkey fever
As many as two outbreaks of Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) or monkey fever were newly recorded in Malappuram and Wayanad. The disease registered 127 attacks in Kerala during the year, causing 17 deaths in humans.
The report notes the mass mortality due to Avian Influenza (HPA1) in ducks in Alappuzha and Kottayam. As many as 1781 turkeys also succumbed to HPA1 in January this year.
Other diseases like enterotoxaemia, swine pox, rabies and orf were also reported in Kerala.
