PUNJAB STARTS MASS IMMUNISATION OF LIVESTOCK AGAINST FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE

Chandigarh: In order to prevent the occurrence of Foot & Mouth Disease (FMD) in the state, Punjab Animal Husbandry Department has started a mass immunisation drive of livestock.

      Disclosing this here today, Punjab Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian said that as many as 68,45,300 FMD vaccine doses have been procured under National Animal Disease Control Programme.

       A total of 48,73,277 FMD vaccine doses have already been administered covering around 75% of the livestock population so far under this drive, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian said while adding that 100% livestock population (around 65,03,505) will be vaccinated by December 20, 2023.

       The Cabinet Minister informed that this vaccine is totally free and the service of administring it is being provided by the staff of Punjab Animal Husbandry Department at the doorstep of the livestock/ dairy farmers. The main objective of this immunisation drive is to protect our livestock from Foot & Mouth Disease, which has been recognized globally as a serious threat to the livestock population.

      In order to save the dairy farmer from the severe milk production losses as the FMD is a highly contagious viral disease of livestock that has a significant economic impact, the Cabinet Minister said while urging the state dairy farmers to reach out to their nearest veterinary institutions to get vaccinated their livestock to eradicate this contagious disease.