DRASS, JULY 06, 2021: Viral Food and Mouth Disease (FMD) among animals at Minamarg near Drass and Labar in Umba caused heavy loss to livestock including cow and cattle, reported local sources from the areas.

The viral disease locally known as Tsetang has killed 35 cows and around 200 cattle at Minamarg in the last three to four days, counted local sources at the area. Sources from Umba also reported to Voice of Ladakh correspondent that a number of livestock have lost lives yesterday due to the disease. However, the number of actual losses is not estimated yet.

The owners who have assembled at Minamarg to look after the cattle complained that the concerned government authorities also reached the venue but did not provide any medicine or injection to cure the disease or break the chain.

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Chief Animal Husbandry Officer Kargil Dr. Mohammad Ismail in a telephonic interview to VoL said that their departmental team is already at the venue however he himself is also on the way. He said that treatment is also in process.

On asking whether the animals were vaccinated in advance, Dr Ismail said that as per the National Animal Disease Control Programme vaccination takes place every year. The last vaccination drive was held in October November and the next was scheduled for March – April which did not take place as vaccines have not received in the district from Central Government. “We have not received the vaccine, once it is reached, we will conduct the vaccination drive”, Dr. Ismail added.

The Doctor further informed that the area where the outbreak of the virus has taken place will not be vaccinated.

He further informed that treatment is also providing in Umba as well. Sarpanch Umba Syed Hassan said that around 15-20 cows have lost lives to the disease. However, quoting a doctor from Animal Husbandry he said that treatment is providing in the area. The doctors had spent three days at Labar and another team is scheduled to leave for the area tomorrow to provide treatment.

The Sarpanch Umba demanded an Animal Care Centre in Umba to provide timely treatment to animals. The current centre is at Sankoo town which is 10 kilometers away from the village.