Disease strikes cattle in Rojhan Mazari

Two camels dead, more suffering from inflammatory problems

RAJANPUR:

Many animals fell prey on Saturday to the Surra virus, a disease caused by a blood borne parasite and transmitted through flies. Camels in Chak Dilbar in Rojhan Mazari were infected. The disease can also affect horses, donkeys, mules, deer, camels, llamas, dogs, cats, cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats and pigs. It is often fatal in horses, dogs and cats.

Following reports of a large number of animals falling sick, veterinarian teams responded and treated the animals, preventing the spread of the disease through. Teams from the Department of Livestock and Dairy Development arrived and took the samples from a number of sick camels. The death of two camels has been confirmed so far, while a large number of camels in the settlement fell sick due to the disease.

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The majority of people of this area earn their living from rearing livestock like camels. Dr Sohaib Farooq, an officer of the Livestock and Dairy Development department, informed the media on Saturday that medical teams reached the scene and made a detailed assessment of the situation by covering an area of 8 km door-to-door. Along with taking samples, treatment was also started immediately, Dr Farooq said, adding that the test results did not confirm any severe epidemic.

Dr Farooq further informed that such a disease can occur due to changes in animals’ water or fodder and the disease itself is not very dangerous. Inflammation was reported in the sick animals which were treated and 40 percent improvement in their condition was reported on the second day of treatment. Dr Farooq debunked false information regarding the mass death of animals due to the epidemic in the area. He added that medical teams will remain in the area until the health of the sick animals improves.

Locals told the media that in their area of the district, almost every house is rearing large animals like camels, which are taken to the markets all over the country for sale.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 5^th, 2023.