35 cows in Aditmari UZ die in a week

At least 35 cows have died of foot and mouth disease (FMD) at six villages in Aditmari upazila in Lalmonirhat district in the last one week while around one thousand cows in five upazilas of the district have been infected.

Amid crisis of FMD vaccine, the livestock office in the district yesterday sent an emergency message seeking immediate supply of 3,000 vaccines, livestock office sources said.

"Three of my cows have died of FMD in last four days. Four others are also infected but I'm not getting FMD vaccine from the livestock office as their stock is already finished," said Subhas Chandra Barman, a farmer at Kamlabari village of Aditmari upazila.

Asgar Ali, a farmer at Mahishkhicha village of Aditmari upazila, said two of his eight cows died of FMD in last four days.

"Two other cows got the disease, but vaccine is not available. I may lose more cows if I do not get the vaccine very soon," he said.

"We get FMD vaccine from the livestock office by paying Tk 10 for each. We can't treat FMD infected cows personally as the vaccine is not available in the open market," said farmer Nazrul Islam at Bhadai village of the upazila.

Dr Mamunur Rashid, Aditmari upazila livestock officer, said they are paying door to door visits and advising farmers how to take care of FMD infected cows.

Admitting the shortage of FMD vaccines, District Livestock Officer Dr Joynal Abedin said he has sent an emergency message to the authorities concerned seeking supply of 3,000 vaccines by today [Sunday].

There is high risk of FMD in Lalmonirhat as Indian cows brought to Bangladesh through the bordering district sometimes carry germs of the disease and it spreads to local cows, he said.