Cow dies of anthrax in Gujarat village, area declared anthrax-hit

Junagadh, Gujarat, Mar 3 (UNI) Following the death of a cow and reports of ten other cattle suffering from an infectious disease at village Dedakiyali and its surrounding areas in Mendarda taluka, the district administration today declared the whole area as anthrax-hit and asked the people to help it in its combat operations.

District Collector Bipin Shrimali told UNI as a precautionary step, the administration has alerted all cattle owners about the do's and don'ts in case any cattle develops symptoms of anthrax, locally called 'Kaliya Tav', meaning black fever.

He said the order would remain in force for three months and anybody found violating it would be prosecuted under Section 188 of Indian Penal Code, besides Section 131 of Mumbai Police Act, 1951 (Rule 22).

The disease can be identified when the infected cattle starts discharging blackish blood from eyes, nose, mouth and renal path, with associated fever. The bacillus is communicable to cattle as well as human beings and spreads through the blood discharge, he explained.

He has asked all the cattle owners in the surrounding areas to immediately report suspected cases to the nearby veterinary clinics at Mendarda or Gadhali and has instructed them to get their cattle properly vaccinated.

Mr Shrimali said the infected cattle, however, should be marked with identification mark for isolation and precaution should be taken to avoid any contact between the human beings and the infected cattle. The dead cattle should not be skinned (for hides) nor dissected, and should be buried deep with adequate common salt and lime, he added.

UNI XR-VKC SSS SB DB1936