Why in news?
Sixteen spotted deer died at Pune’s Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park due to foot and mouth disease, prompting authorities to review disease control measures.
Overview of the disease
- Foot and mouth disease is a highly contagious viral infection affecting cloven‑hoofed animals such as cattle, buffalo, goats, sheep, pigs and deer. It causes fever and blisters on the mouth and hooves, leading to lameness and reduced milk and meat production.
- The disease was first identified in the United States in the 1870s and was eradicated there by 1929, but it remains endemic in many parts of Asia, Africa and the Middle East. FMD does not infect humans and does not pose a food safety risk.
Transmission and symptoms
- The virus spreads through direct contact, contaminated feed or equipment and airborne particles. The incubation period ranges from two to fourteen days.
- Symptoms include high fever for two or three days, painful blisters on the mouth and hooves, excessive salivation, lameness and sometimes abortions or sterility in animals.
Control measures
- India launched the National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP) in 2019 to eradicate FMD and brucellosis by 2030. It is fully funded by the central government and supports vaccination, surveillance, ear‑tagging and awareness campaigns.
- Institutes such as the National Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Disease Informatics (NIVEDI) and the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) work on vaccine development and outbreak monitoring.
Significance
- FMD can cause severe economic losses by reducing milk yield and meat production and by limiting exports. Effective vaccination and surveillance are crucial to protect farmers’ livelihoods.
