Congo virus: Livestock teams stationed at pickets and highways to vaccinate cattle

No threat of Congo fever in DG Khan: Livestock DO

DERA GHAZI KHAN/ BAHAWALPUR: The district administration has stationed 150 teams at various points in the district to examine and vaccinate livestock against Congo virus. Some of the teams have been stationed at pickets at entrances to the district, and on main roads and highways.

Livestock District Officer Dr Rab Nawaz said so far, 1,830 animals at cattle farms, 300 cattle loaded in trucks and 14,870 other animals had been administered the vaccine through injections. He said 56,400 animals had been bathed in medicinal water to kill ticks.

Pickets have been set up at the Mailsi Syphon, Head Islam, Channi Goth Mod, Sutlej River Bridge, Yazman Road and roads leading to Bahawalpur.

Nawaz said this was a part of their campaign against Congo virus. “No animal will be allowed to enter the city via truck, trolley or other means without getting sprayed first.” He said they were vaccinating cattle and other animals for free.

“Livestock Department teams are working tirelessly so that animals would be free of the disease.”

In Dera Ghazi Khan, the district administration has said that the Congo virus threat must be eliminated on an emergency basis.

Livestock teams have been appointed at cattle markets, in villages and towns to vaccinate animals, Livestock District Officer Atif Haseeb said on Wednesday. “We have had no reports of Congo fever anywhere in the district and we want to make sure there won’t be one.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 4^th, 2016.