The Group of Ministers (GoM), constituted for effective monitoring for the prevention of lumpy skin disease in the state, on Friday directed to procure 3.33 lakh more doses of Goat Pox vaccine for the prevention of lumpy skin disease.
Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and Animal Husbandry Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar issued directions to the officials concerned that 3.33 lakh more doses should immediately be ordered from approved veterinary research institutes and distributed to all the districts so as to ensure no hindrance in vaccination drive.
“The Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is personally monitoring the situation and daily taking reports of the ongoing relief operations in the state,” they said.
Reviewing the vaccination drive, the Ministers directed that vaccination should be intensified and the target should be doubled to 50,000 per day besides ensuring that vaccination is being done free of cost. They said that so far, more than 1.30 lakh cattle have been vaccinated in the state.
The Ministers also directed the senior officials of the concerned departments to issue instructions to the district officials for providing calcium, vitamins, and other necessary medicines for the animals of the State, besides ensuring that the guidelines regarding prohibition of entry of livestock from other states into Punjab and holding of animal fair should be followed in letter and spirit, till the disease is contained. The Ministers also reviewed the activities related to spraying of mosquito repellent in the state.
The Cabinet Ministers said that to shun the practice of throwing carcasses of dead animals in the open, the government has issued funds to the BDPOs besides directing them to arrange JCB to ensure burial of dead cattle and remain in touch with sarpanches of villages. The Ministers also urged the farmers not to throw the dead animals in the open.
Rejecting the rumours about not consuming the milk of the affected animals, the Animal Husbandry Minister said that this disease does not affect the human body if the milk is well boiled.