Death toll rises to 42 so far
KOHIMA, SEPTEMBER 8: Five more buffaloes were discovered dead at Kanjang Village in Meluri Sub-Division, Phek District, on Wednesday taking the official death toll of the buffaloes in the village to 42 so far.
Veterinary Assistant Surgeon (VAS), Meluri, Dr. Shiphatu Thupitor, accompanied by EAC Lephori, Tsalimse Sangtam visited the village for an inspection to ascertain the cause of the death on September 8.
Speaking to Nagaland Page, Thupitor said: “As of now I cannot give any concrete details about the diagnosis of the disease.”
But as per the observation of external signs and symptoms and post-mortem findings, the particular disease outbreak is suspected to be Haemorrhagic Septicaemia which is a febrile disease caused by a bacteria named Pasteurella multocida B2, said the VAS.
The bacteria can survive for as long as one week in favourable conditions, he added.
Stating that the suspicion has to be verified in a lab, the samples extracted from the carcass of the buffaloes on September 8 will be sent to Elisa Lab at Kohima, which is within the premise of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services compound at Tinpati Area, Kohima.
In the meantime, farmers of Kanjang Village have been issued an antibiotic course and liver tonic vitamin, which will address the current mortality of the buffaloes.
The VAS also said that while there is already an order issued on September 7 by the Office of the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Meluri, whereby the import of buffaloes from outside the Sub-Division and slaughtering/butchering of buffaloes within the Sub-Division have been banned until further notice.
The villagers were also advised to restrict the movement of the cattle between neighbouring villages, he said.
In regard to the talk on social media where citizens are criticizing the Government for the delay in initiating action toward the unusual death of the buffaloes at Kanjang Village, “it must be noted that the farmers of Kanjang Village approached the Veterinary Office on September 6”, the VAS clarified.
The day being “Black Day” in the Pochury region, the office was on a holiday and hence the delay, he added.
As per DIPR bulletin, Naganews, the technical team, dispatched by the Directorate of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services to investigate the sudden and unusual death of buffaloes at Kangjan Village in Meluri Sub-Division, Phek District, has observed from the clinical symptoms that the deaths may be due to an acute form of haemorrhagic septicaemia (HS), which is caused by a bacteria called Pasteurella multocida.
However, the aetiology will be confirmed only after laboratory test, according to a DIPR bulletin on Wednesday.
In the meantime, public/livestock owners have been requested to remain vigil on any sudden death of the animals and report such cases to the nearest Veterinary Institute for further investigations.
“It may be reiterated that reporting the matter to the right authority is of utmost importance, i.e. AH & Veterinary Services Department in this case, for timely initiation of control and containment plan”, it stated.
Further, livestock owners have been requested not to open the carcass or consume the dead animals but follow proper procedures in disposing the dead animal in co-ordination with the Department officers.
(Page News Service)
