The Animal Husbandry division has intensified the containment measures after an outbreak of canine distemper that reportedly killed round 3,200 canines in varied elements of the district.
According to division officers, most circumstances of the extremely contagious viral illness are from the Thrikkaruva, Panayam, Kottankara and Kollam Corporation areas. Symptoms of the illness are much like rabies as contaminated canines will develop nasal and eye discharge, seizures or muscle tremors resulting in loss of life. The illness, which doesn’t reply to therapy, spreads in a short time by means of wind and isn’t transmissible to people.
“It’s caused by morbillivirus and it affects the function of brain. It’s not possible to save infected dogs are we are seeing such an outbreak after almost two decades,” mentioned an official.
Vaccination essential
The division has already began preventive and consciousness measures together with vaccination within the areas the place the illness has been confirmed. “Very often people mistake it for rabies and since it’s an airborne infection, it easily spreads in nearby areas. Infected dogs die within two weeks,” he mentioned.
According to officers, it may be prevented solely by means of vaccination and the primary shot must be given to pups inside 45 days adopted by a booster dose. “At present the disease is spreading among strays only as all responsible pet owners take vaccination. The spread will be maximum during the windy season and it will take 90 days for the wave to end,” mentioned the official.
After assessing the state of affairs, Minister for Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development J. Chinchurani mentioned that at current there isn’t a have to panic as all containment measures are in place.
