June 6, 2011

 

Bangladesh's cattle to be vaccinated against anthrax   

 

 

The Bangladesh's government has taken actions to vaccinate cattle in order to stop anthrax from taking place.

 

The authorities concerned have been directed to provide anthrax vaccines for around 500,000 cattle of the anthrax-affected areas.

 

According to the livestock department, many cattle and some people in 16 districts were infected by anthrax from August-October last year.

 

Recently, another anthrax bout hit Sirajganj and Pabna.

 

Officials at the livestock department said 20 cattle in Shahjadpur and Ullapara upazilas of Sirajganj were infected by the disease.

 

Livestock minister Abdul Latif Biswas said on Sunday (Jun 5) that an order to provide vaccines in the anthrax-hit areas was issued.

 

"Livestock officials have been asked to launch a mass drive to vaccinate all the cattle in the areas," he said.

 

In 2010, 104 cattle died from anthrax. Of them, 37 were cows and the others goats.

 

Of 437 cattle infected by anthrax in 2009, 156 died.

 

According to the livestock ministry, the department spent BDT2.45 million (US$33,624) on providing compensation to the owners of the cattle died from anthrax last year.

 

They received BDT17,000-165,000 (US$233-2265) for each cattle and BDT200,000 (US$2745) for cattle with calve.