Odisha Government to incentivise anthrax reporting, conduct massive vaccination

The Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Department has come up with a new project which not only looks to cover the endemic pockets with vaccination but also incentivise the disease reporting.

BHUBANESHWAR: With the deadly anthrax outbreak reported in tribal districts of the State, the Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Department has come up with a new project which not only looks to cover the endemic pockets with vaccination but also incentivise the disease reporting.

Anthrax has been reported in 19 districts including Angul, Balasore, Bargarh, Cuttack, Deogarh, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Jharsuguda, Koraput, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Keonjhar, Khurda, Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj, Nuapada, Puri, Rayagada and Sundargarh which have been designated endemic. Elephants, at least 12 of them, have died due to anthrax in last two years.

Under the project, the Department plans to conduct vaccination in the 19 endemic districts where it plans to cover 19 lakh animals. It has also made a provision of remuneration to farmers for reporting disease and for disposing the carcass of dead animal.

Commissioner-cum-Secretary Bishnupada Sethi said, the person who reports anthrax incidence in the endemic pockets first will be eligible for a Rs 1000 incentive provided the disease is confirmed as anthrax by the veterinarian.

Similarly, animal owners will be provided an incentive of 1,000 per dead animal for proper disposal which has to be done through deep burial with lime treatment to prevent further transmission.

Besides, massive awareness on safe handling and non-consumption of meat affected with anthrax through mass media, preliminary as well as confirmatory diagnosis, surveillance and research on anthrax epidemiology will be carried out.

Sethi said, the project will control and contain anthrax not only in animals but also in human population in the endemic districts.

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