Guwahati: As many as 267 mithuns have died of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) in Arunachal Pradesh’s Dibang Valley district over the past two months, while 1,402 animals have been affected, officials said on Monday.
The disease has so far been detected in 21 villages across the district, prompting veterinary authorities to step up treatment, surveillance and preventive measures to contain the outbreak.
According to District Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Officer Dr Dammo Riba, the first cases were reported in the district in the last week of July following reports of mithun deaths.
Veterinary teams were subsequently deployed to the affected areas with medicines and sample-collection kits. A team of subject experts from the Centre also visited the district to assess the situation.
Laboratory tests conducted by the National Institute of Foot and Mouth Disease in Odisha confirmed that the outbreak was caused by FMD serotype O.
According to the department’s status report as of September 20, 1,402 mithuns had been affected, of whom 1,225 were treated, while 267 died.
A four-member Rapid Response Team, along with local veterinary personnel, is currently conducting treatment, surveillance and awareness programmes in the affected areas.
Dr Riba credited the state government and the Directorate of Animal Husbandry, Veterinary & Dairy Development for providing additional manpower and adequate medicines to strengthen the district’s response.
He said the department maintains detailed livestock records, including household-, individual- and village-level data on mithuns and cattle. He urged residents and other agencies to cross-check livestock population and mortality figures with official departmental records to avoid the circulation of inaccurate information.
FMD is a highly contagious viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals, including mithuns and cattle. Vaccination remains a key preventive measure, and the department conducts free routine vaccination drives twice a year by reaching farmers at their doorsteps, Dr Riba said.
He appealed to livestock owners to cooperate with veterinary teams during vaccination campaigns.
The department is continuing surveillance and other containment measures to control the outbreak and protect the livestock population in Dibang Valley.