The Animal Husbandry, Veterinary & Dairy Development Department has stepped up treatment and preventive measures to contain the outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) affecting mithuns in Arunachal Pradesh’s Dibang Valley district.
According to District Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Officer Dr Dammo Riba, the disease was first reported during the last week of July. Following reports of animal deaths, veterinary teams were immediately deployed with medicines and sample-collection kits. A team of subject experts from the Government of India also visited the affected areas to assess the situation.
Laboratory tests conducted by the National Institute of Foot and Mouth Disease (NIFMD), Odisha, later confirmed the presence of FMD serotype ‘O’.
As per the department’s status report dated September 20, a total of 21 villages have been affected by the outbreak. Around 1,402 mithuns have been infected, of which 1,225 have received treatment, while 267 animals have died due to the disease.
To strengthen the response, a four-member Rapid Response Team (RRT), along with local veterinary personnel, is actively carrying out treatment, surveillance, and awareness campaigns in the affected regions.
Dr Riba expressed gratitude to the state government and the Directorate of Animal Husbandry, Veterinary & Dairy Development for providing additional manpower and adequate medical supplies to support disease-control efforts.
He also emphasized that the department maintains comprehensive livestock records, including household-wise, individual-wise, and village-wise data on mithuns and cattle. He urged the public and stakeholders to verify livestock population and mortality figures through official departmental records to prevent the spread of inaccurate information.
Highlighting vaccination as the most effective preventive measure against FMD, Dr Riba appealed to livestock owners to cooperate fully with the department’s free biannual vaccination drives, which are conducted at farmers’ doorsteps.
The department continues to closely monitor the situation and is implementing all necessary measures to prevent further spread of the disease and protect the livestock population in Dibang Valley.
