CHANDIGARH: Punjab Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian said on Friday that more than 48 percent of the state livestock have been vaccinated against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) within just 18 days of the statewide mass-immunisation drive, which was commenced on October 21.
He further stated that five teams of flying squads have been formed to assess the effectiveness of the immunisation drive. Each team has been assigned to cover four to five districts to verify the FMD immunisation data and visit livestock farms across the state. Out of a total of 65, 47, 407 livestock in the state, over 31.48 lakh cattle have been administered with the FMD vaccine by 816 teams of the Animal Husbandry department. He directed the department authorities to ensure that all livestock are vaccinated against FMD by November 30.
While urging livestock farmers to take advantage of the drive to protect their cattle from FMD, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian mentioned that the Punjab Animal Husbandry department has set up a control room at the state level, along with district-level control rooms at the offices of the Deputy Directors of the Animal Husbandry department. The department has also provided a helpline number, 0172-5086064, to assist livestock farmers.
Principal Secretary of Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries, Mr. Rahul Bhandari, stated that the department has procured 55.86 lakh disposal syringes with needles and other logistics at a cost of Rs. 1.08 crore to ensure the smooth and efficient execution of the mass inoculation drive. He also emphasised that the vaccine is being administered free of cost to the entire livestock population in the state and asked the officials concerned to effectively maintain the cold chain, besides sensitising livestock farmers about the benefits of the immunisation drive.