Cattle quarantine imposed after virulent disease kills 25 buffaloes in Kuala T'ganu
KUALA TERENGGANU: The Terengganu Veterinary Services Department (DVS) has identified an outbreak of haemorrhagic septicaemia in this district.
State agriculture, food security and commodities committee chairman Dr Azman Ibrahim said the first case of the bacterial disease, which affects cattle and buffaloes, was reported on April 7.
It resulted in the deaths of 25 out of 120 buffaloes owned by six farmers in Kampung Dusun Tembakau in Manir here, he added.
Post-mortem examinations and sampling were conducted, and the presence of the disease was confirmed on Tuesday (April 22).
"Control and preventive measures, including a quarantine order, were issued to the farmers yesterday (Thursday, April 24) under Section 18 of the Animals Act 1953.
"Notices prohibiting the movement of cattle or buffaloes in and out of the affected village have also been issued to prevent the spread of the disease within a 5km radius of the outbreak location,' he said in a statement on Friday (April 25).
Exceptions for movement are allowed only for slaughterhouse purposes at the DVS-owned slaughterhouse in Gong Badak, Kuala Nerus, and a licensed private slaughterhouse here, he added.
Dr Azman said the movement restrictions affecting seven sub-districts in the Kuala Terengganu and Kuala Nerus districts are in force until further notice.
DVS has also provided quarantine pens for livestock isolation and to facilitate treatment and monitoring of symptomatic animals.
"Disinfection assistance, including one barrel of chlorinated lime, has been distributed to farmers to reduce the risk of disease spread through contact with infected animal fluids," he added.
This year, DVS has administered 343 vaccines for the disease in flood-prone areas in the Setiu, Dungun and Kuala Nerus districts.
Haemorrhagic septicaemia is a highly contagious and fatal disease caused by the Pasteurella multocida bacterium. Outbreaks tend to occur during monsoons and periods of high humidity. – Bernama
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