38 districts in UP affected by glanders outbreak
With 189 samples testing positive in 2017, Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of cases among the affected states in the country
KANPUR: At least 38 out of the 75 districts in Uttar Pradesh have been in the grip of Glanders and Farcy --- a fatal and highly contagious disease found in mostly horses, mules and donkeys ---in the last two years.
This has been confirmed by the National Research Centre for Equines, Hisar, which tested at least one positive blood sample randomly taken from horses, mules and donkeys from each of these districts.
At least 189 samples sent to NRCE from Uttar Pradesh tested positive in 2017, according to the data accessed from the animal husbandry department. This figure is feared to be the highest among the 11 affected states in the country.
Other affected states are Haryana, Himachal, Gujarat, Jammu &Kashmir, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
In the last one year, the authorities have euthanised 145 animals and buried them to ensure the bacteria doesn’t spread.
Two horses and four mules were euthanised in Secundara area of Kanpur Dehat on January 6 this year after NRCE, Hisar confirmed the disease. Search is on for two horses and two mules in Unnao and an alert has been sounded to find them.
“The disease is still sporadic and all our efforts are directed at containing it,” said Dr SK Agarwal who heads the team monitoring disease in the animal husbandry department. “There is no other way to treat the disease except euthanising the animals. Convincing their owners to do this often hinders our work,” he
AT LEAST 189 SAMPLES SENT TO NRCE FROM UTTAR PRADESH TESTED POSITIVE IN 2017, ACCORDING TO THE DATA ACCESSED FROM THE ANIMAL HUSBANDRY DEPARTMENT.
said. But the department is clearly worried over the spread of glanders to newer districts and has stepped up vigil in the state.
All the districts are collecting a total of 2,000 blood samples every month and sending them to NRCE in Hisar. The precautionary measures were doubled after glanders outbreak was reported in Delhi and districts like Ghaziabad and Noida were put on high alert, said sources familiar with the working of the department.
The movement of horses to and from these two districts was restricted in the national capital. “We have asked the districts to quarantine the animals immediately after spotting the symptoms associated with glanders,” said Agarwal.
According to the 2012 livestock census, Uttar Pradesh has a population of 2,51,000 horses, mules and donkeys—out of which 1,50,000 are horses.
Since they are higher in number, the government has allotted funds that it received under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, for collection of monthly blood samples in every district, making vets available, and arranging special kits needed while euthanizing the animals.
At present, each of the 75 districts is sending at least 20 blood samples every month to NRCE, Hisar, as part of a strengthened surveillance programme. “Without these kits, there is a strong chance of experts getting exposed to glanders as it is transmittable to humans as well,” added the sources.
Glanders mostly occurs in horses, mules and donkeys but can also be transmitted to dogs, cats, goats and even humans. Bulkholderia Mallei, a bacterium, causes the infection through contaminated feed or water. The infection has surfaced in Uttar Pradesh after eight years. The last outbreak was reported in 2006. Dr SK Paul, a leading veterinarian, said the cases of glanders started surfacing in 2014 but the government didn’t act in time.
The diseases now covers half of Uttar Pradesh and is spreading to other states as well. In 2014, the outbreak was restricted to western UP but it has now spread to central UP and is also heading towards eastern parts of the state.
“In 2017, the highest number of cases of glanders was reported from UP. The cases are no longer sporadic. It is gradually becoming an epidemic in the state,” said Dr Paul who had also diagnosed canine distemper as the reason behind the death of lions at Etawah Lion Safari.
He suggested a ban on animal fairs such as the ongoing one at historic Makanpur village from January 14.
One of the oldest fairs, Makanpur attracts horse dealers from across the country who bring close to 10,000 animals each year.
The unchecked movement of horses to and from the state has been the biggest contributor in spreading of the disease, which has a presence in nine states of the country.
This year, the animal husbandry department has strengthened the surveillance system and deployed more vets from different districts to look for horses down suffering from the disease.