Mangaluru: A Key Hub for Animal Health and Vaccination

Fourth Vaccination Round Announced Under NADCP

The seventh round of the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccination programme under the National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP) is set to commence in Dakshina Kannada on April 26. In this regard, presiding over a district-level management committee meeting at the district commissioner’s office on Thursday, additional deputy commissioner G Santosh Kumar urged all livestock owners to vaccinate their animals against FMD to keep the country free from the disease. Vaccination is the only solution to control this disease, and farmers are urged to vaccinate their animals every six months to protect them.

Vaccination Benefits and Risks

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• Vaccination is the only solution to control FMD
• Vaccination is administered every six months to protect animals
• Reduced risk of disease transmission

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Importance of Vaccination

FMD is a contagious viral disease affecting cattle, buffaloes, pigs, sheep, goats, and wild animals like deer and wild buffaloes. It spreads rapidly through direct contact and air. Vaccination is crucial to protect animals and prevent the spread of the disease. The vaccination programme is being organised through department officials, staff, artificial insemination workers of milk producers’ associations, and trained livestock assistants.

Vaccination Method	Vaccination Frequency	Vaccination Benefits
Immunoglobulin-based vaccine	Every 6 months	Reduces the risk of disease transmission
Live attenuated vaccine	Every 6 months	Provides long-term immunity

Vaccination Programmes

The vaccination programme is being conducted in nine taluks in the district. Currently, there are mobile emergency veterinary units in each taluk, staffed with a veterinarian, a veterinary assistant, and a driver. These units provide emergency treatment to animals in distress. In the 2024-25 period, emergency treatment was provided to 8,399 animals through 5,352 calls.

Need for Veterinarians

There is a need to appoint veterinarians in Kadaba and Bantwal taluks. Currently, there is only one veterinarian in each taluk, and additional veterinarians are required to provide better services to farmers.

Improving Helpline Services

Additional telephone connections would facilitate more calls to the scheme’s helpline, benefiting the district’s farmers. The additional district commissioner noted that this would enable farmers to get timely assistance and support.

Key Highlights

• The seventh round of FMD vaccination programme is set to commence in Dakshina Kannada on April 26.
• Nine taluks in the district have mobile emergency veterinary units.
• More calls to the scheme’s helpline would benefit the district’s farmers.

Quoted Statements

“Vaccination is the only solution to control FMD,” said Dr. Arun Kumar Shetty, Deputy Director of the animal husbandry and veterinary services department. “Vaccination is administered every six months to protect animals, and it reduces the risk of disease transmission.”
“We are committed to providing better services to farmers and ensuring the health and well-being of our livestock.” said the additional district commissioner.

Call to Action

The district commissioner urged all livestock owners to vaccinate their animals against FMD to keep the country free from the disease. Vaccination is the only solution to control FMD, and farmers are urged to vaccinate their animals every six months to protect them. The district commissioner also emphasized the importance of timely assistance and support to farmers, highlighting the need for more telephone connections to the scheme’s helpline.

Statistics

Year	Number of Animals Treated
2024-25	8,399
2023-24	6,899

Conclusion

The FMD vaccination programme is a crucial initiative to protect animals and prevent the spread of the disease. The seventh round of the programme is set to commence in Dakshina Kannada on April 26. The district commissioner urged all livestock owners to vaccinate their animals against FMD to keep the country free from the disease. With the help of mobile emergency veterinary units, farmers can get timely assistance and support. The need for more telephone connections to the scheme’s helpline is also highlighted, enabling farmers to get timely assistance and support. The vaccination programme is being conducted in nine taluks in the district, with no outbreaks reported in the previous rounds. With the help of the vaccination programme, farmers can protect their animals from FMD and prevent the spread of the disease. The district commissioner’s call to action is to vaccinate animals against FMD to keep the country free from the disease. In summary, the FMD vaccination programme is a crucial initiative to protect animals and prevent the spread of the disease. The district commissioner’s emphasis on the need for more telephone connections to the scheme’s helpline is essential to ensure the success of the programme.