RSOE Emergency and Disaster Information Service

2010-03-19 03:47:09 - Biological Hazard - Sri Lanka

EDIS CODE: BH-20100319-25370-LKA
Date & Time: 2010-03-19 03:47:09 [UTC]
Area: Sri Lanka, North Eastern State, Ampara District,

Not confirmed information!

Description:

Cattle farmers and government authorities are baffled about the deaths of over 3000 milking cattle in the Ampara district in the past few days, which have caused a great loss to the livelihood of cattle breeders in the area. The Thirukkovil Government Veterinary Surgeon said yesterday [15 Mar 2010] that nearly 3000 milking cattle had died in Thangavillai, Ampara as a result of progressive emaciation due to close herding of cattle as well as prevailing weather conditions. "The deaths started occurring less than 2 weeks ago. We immediately began our research in collaboration with the Polonnaruwa Veterinary Research Officer to find out whether it was an epidemic," said Thirukkovil Government Veterinary Surgeon Dr. Mrs. Thambamalar Gohulathash. They had collected blood and foetal samples of the animals for check-ups. "We have been able to come to the conclusion that the deaths were due to the close herding of the animals," she added. According to Dr. Gohulathash, farmers, although they had been advised to do otherwise, have been herding the cattle in small land plots. "Even though the number of animals was increasing, the farmers kept on herding them in the same location," she said, pointing out that this was not favourable for the health conditions of animals. She also said acute contamination of water, neglecting the de-worming process and the rapid environmental changes due to the heavy rains and sudden drought that followed subsequently were other reasons behind the deaths of cattle. Meanwhile, South Dairy Development Co-operative Society dairy farmers claim that more than 10 000 of their milking cattle have died and that the deaths are the result of a disease to which the Animal Production Department had no medication.

The name of Hazard: Undiagnosed die-off (Cattle)
Species: Animal
Status: Confirmed

Posted:2010-03-19 03:47:09 [UTC]