Kendrapara, March 24 (LocalWire): The theileriosis disease of buffaloes recently struck riverside villages under Aul block in Kendrapara district, killing 25 buffaloes within a week.
This has triggered panic among people of Ranipokhari, Balakati, Nagapada and other villages, as the buffaloes live in close contact with humans.
“People have been instructed not to handle the dead buffaloes without gloves, and dig deep holes to bury the dead bodies to contain further spread of the disease.
The disease is as of yet confined to some villages under Aul block, said Dr. Ashis Satapathy, the Sub-Divisional Veterinary Officer of Kendrapara.
“Authorities did not move in time to check the disease when it first surfaced in the first week of March. Only after it spread to other villages did they devise a plan of action,” alleged Brajasundar Barik of Ranipokhari village, who lost five buffaloes to the disease in 4 days.
Locals who used to earn a livelihood by selling milk, cheese and curd sourced from buffaloes are in a state of panic after the sudden death of large numbers of buffaloes.
“We have formed rapid response teams comprising livestock inspectors, village gomitras and veterinary officers in the district to check the spread of the disease,” said Satapathy.
“The disease is primarily transmitted by ticks as it is caused by a blood-borne parasite. All people have been requested to inform the administration on the death of any buffalo,” he added.
LocalWire
Leave a Reply