Andaman witnesses outbreak of dog disease

Port Blair, Feb 3(UNI) The Animal Husbandry Department today confirmed an outbreak of "canine distemper" disease in the dog population of South Andaman area.

''It is a highly contagious, systemic viral disease affecting dogs and the most common signs are fever, refusal to take food, discharge from the eyes, coughing and sometimes diarrhoea,'' Director of Andaman's Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department Dr Mahato informed the islanders today.

However, the department did not confirm the number of deaths of the dogs due to this disease.

The confirmation came after deaths of some pet dogs in Port Blair and receiving similar reports from various other areas of South Andaman.

In advance stages, the dogs show nervous signs and twitching of muscles. Death follows in unattended and complicated cases.

Doctors said like all viral diseases, canine distemper was prevented by vaccination.

''All pet owners have been asked to get their apparently healthy dogs vaccinated against "canine distemper",'' he said.

Meanwhile, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services have cautioned all the dog owners against letting loose their dogs outside in order to avoid contracting the disease from stray or other infected dogs.

The Department have also adviced to restrict the movement of dogs from South Andaman to any other islands of this archipelago, which contains 38 inhabited islands.

UNI