Recent Cattle Disease Outbreaks in India: FMD, LSD Highlight Biosecurity Gaps
Sourse: dairynews.today
India's dairy sector confronts significant biosecurity challenges as outbreaks of Foot-and-Mouth Disease and Lumpy Skin Disease exacerbate existing vulnerabilities.
India’s dairy sector, supporting over 80 million rural households, is currently navigating a biosecurity crisis stemming fr om recent outbreaks of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) and Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD). These outbreaks underscore the gaps in biosecurity, with diseases like Brucellosis and Bovine Tuberculosis also contributing to disruptions in milk production and threats to public health. Key obstacles identified by experts include weak enforcement of cattle laws, lack of universal tagging, and ineffective quarantine zones.
"The legislation exists to control stray animals and enforce biosecurity, but we need to get the basics right before we can go any further," says Jan Nel, a biosecurity officer with significant experience in veterinary enforcement.
Recent outbreaks have been documented across various Indian states. For instance, Maharashtra's Nagpur reported 376 LSD cases, with 18 cattle deaths, wh ere 1.3 million cattle were vaccinated. Similarly, Gujarat saw 355 cases across 11 districts, with 8 fatalities, detected early through milk testing. Further complicating the crisis, initiatives such as cattle branding, functional quarantine facilities, and adequate funding remain inadequate. The financial burden of maintaining quarantine impoundments is significant, with costs up to ₹10 lakh against limited district veterinary budgets. This financial strain is compounded by security risks and logistical challenges.
"Stray and untagged cattle are silent carriers. We cannot vaccinate our way out of this without traceability and enforcement," a senior veterinary officer in Punjab asserts.
These structural issues highlight that the recent disease outbreaks are symptomatic of more profound systemic failures, suggesting that India’s struggle with biosecurity extends beyond immediate containment measures.
"The legislation exists to control stray animals and enforce biosecurity, but we need to get the basics right before we can go any further," says Jan Nel, a biosecurity officer with significant experience in veterinary enforcement.
Recent outbreaks have been documented across various Indian states. For instance, Maharashtra's Nagpur reported 376 LSD cases, with 18 cattle deaths, wh ere 1.3 million cattle were vaccinated. Similarly, Gujarat saw 355 cases across 11 districts, with 8 fatalities, detected early through milk testing. Further complicating the crisis, initiatives such as cattle branding, functional quarantine facilities, and adequate funding remain inadequate. The financial burden of maintaining quarantine impoundments is significant, with costs up to ₹10 lakh against limited district veterinary budgets. This financial strain is compounded by security risks and logistical challenges.
"Stray and untagged cattle are silent carriers. We cannot vaccinate our way out of this without traceability and enforcement," a senior veterinary officer in Punjab asserts.
These structural issues highlight that the recent disease outbreaks are symptomatic of more profound systemic failures, suggesting that India’s struggle with biosecurity extends beyond immediate containment measures.
