The Andhra Pradesh Animal Husbandry Department will conduct a Statewide free vaccination campaign against Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) for cattle and buffaloes, including calves aged above four months, under the National Animal Disease Control Programme. Director of Animal Husbandry Dr. T. Damodar Naidu, said on Sunday, that the vaccination drive will be carried out from March 16 to April 29, during which the Animal Husbandry Department staff will visit the homes of livestock owners’ and administer vaccines free of cost. The campaign will be conducted in two phases. The main round will take place from March 16 to April 14, followed by a second phase from April 15 to April 29 to cover remaining animals and administer booster doses.
Dr. Damodar Naidu appealed to livestock farmers across the State to cooperate with the department and ensure that their animals are vaccinated to protect them from the disease and prevent economic losses. Foot-and-Mouth Disease is a highly contagious viral disease that affects cattle and buffaloes, particularly animals with low immunity. Cross-bred animals are more vulnerable to the disease than indigenous breeds. Vaccination remains the only effective preventive measure against the infection. To control the disease, the State government has supplied 83.69 lakh vaccine doses to districts for the campaign.
The virus usually spreads through wounds in animals, contaminated fodder, feed, water, dung and the urine of infected animals. It can cause a sharp decline in milk production, weakness and emaciation in animals, reduce working capacity of bulls and oxen, and in some cases death among calves. The infection may also result in severe economic losses for livestock farmers. Common symptoms of the disease include high fever ranging between 104 and 106 degrees Fahrenheit, blisters in the mouth, gums, tongue and lips that burst and cause severe pain, and excessive salivation. Blisters may also appear between the hooves and on the udder, causing lameness, swelling and secondary bacterial infections. In severe cases, calves may die after consuming milk from infected animals, and pregnant animals may suffer abortions. Animals affected by the disease may take up to six months to fully recover and may experience weakness, breathing difficulties and reduced tolerance to heat.