Disease Information
These islands are commonly free from most of the dreaded diseases which are prevalent in mainland (India) i.e. Anthrax, Black Quarter, Rinder Pest, Hemorrhagic Septicemia, Rabies, Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia, Encephalitis etc. Except for three incidences of Foot and Mouth diseases (FMD) outbreak in 1985*, 1988* and 2005 and three incidence of Swine fever outbreak in 1967, 1987 and 2000, Fascioliasis Bovine in Oct 1995, no other outbreak of infectious or contagious disease has been reported so far in livestock.
- The lesions were noticed only in those animals brought from Kerala to this UT, this infection was controlled and contained in the farm itself.
- In the year 2006-2007 stray dogs as well as unvaccinated pet dog died due to Distemper Disease.
- Diseases like Chronic Respiratory disease, Infectious Bursal disease, Ranikhet disease in poultry are prevalent here, all these disease are introduced to these Islands through import of livestock, meat, meat products, eggs & live poultry etc.
- Ranikhet Disease outbreak noticed 1992 & 1994, IBD 1993 & 1994. The incidence and prevalence of parasitic diseases are more common in the islands due to high humidity and rainfall.
- Though the population of livestock and poultry is very meager, it is equally difficult to bring the population under the monitoring & surveillance plan due to the difficult terrain and approach.
- Routine surveillance and monitoring of the diseases especially the diseases which are of zoonotic importance like TB, Leptospira, Bruceloisis etc. are being geared up by this department.
- The islands so far free from the incidence of avian flu, swine flu and some of the exotic diseases like BSE (Bovine Spongiform encephalopathy) of livestock and poultry.
- Therefore, regular screening for emerging and reemerging diseases should be done on priority, the strict surveillance and quarantine of the diseases shall be done in the regular basis.