Tamil Nadu - Salem   

Border villages monitored for anthrax outbreak

Special Correspondent

Intensive vaccination campaign from Nov. 2 Stringent preventive measures being taken up in many villages and hamlets in Talaivasal block in Salem district

SALEM: A team of veterinarians, especially after the recent rain, has been closely monitoring the border villages of Salem and Perambalur districts to prevent any possible outbreak of the anthrax bacteria.

`Soil conducive for proliferation'

Stringent preventive measures such as mass vaccination are being taken up in many villages and hamlets in Talaivasal block in Salem district, which are listed as `vulnerable' to the attack of anthrax bacteria, Bacillus anthracis.

"The soil there is conducive for the proliferation of this kind of bacteria," said a senior veterinarian of the Department of Animal Husbandry, here.

No death reported

Notwithstanding the recent death of a cow in a village in Talaivasal block reportedly due to the Anthrax attack, these veterinarians had effectively curtailed its mass outbreak following the intense vaccination drive in the last 30 days. "Since then no death due to anthrax attack has been reported in the district," said a senior official in the Department of Animal Husbandry here. A total of 4,000 vaccinations had already been administered in that region alone in the immediate past so far. The Department was also planning to organise intense vaccination campaign from November 2 to 17.

Vigil maintained

Meanwhile, reports from the other side of the border claimed that a cow was reportedly died of suspected anthrax attack in the Kallapatti village in Perambalur taluk a couple of days back forcing the Government to rush 500 vaccinations from Salem.

The incident of anthrax attack was reported in this part of the region some three years back. Since the bacteria used to surface now and then from this region, a constant vigil was being maintained.

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