RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF

RECENT FOOT AND MOUTH

DISEASE OUTBREAK

INDIAN VETERINARY ASSOCIATION

KERALA

AN ANALYSIS OF RECENT

FMD OUTBREAK OF

KERALA WITH

ATTRIBUTED CAUSES AND

RECOMMENDATIONS

Foot & Mouth Disease – HIGHLY contagious

viral disease

Cloven footed animals –mainly affected

Great potential of causing severe

economic loss

Animal population-protected against the highly

contagious Foot and Mouth Disease

Massive Vaccination campaign conducted by

the AHD-under ADCP & FMDCP- from 2004 at

six months interval.

Unexpectedly a massive outbreak of FMD

occurred in Kerala in 2013 leading to huge

economic loss.

Started from August 2013

The Disease equally affected- both Vaccinated &

Unvaccinated animals

Wide range of species involved in outbreak

Cattle, Buffalo, Goats & Pigs, Wild animals-

forests & captivity

Spotted deer, Sambar deer, hog deer, Gaur &

Elephants

Disease observed –even in organized farms

taking regular vaccination

Occurred in all 14 districts and almost all

panchayaths

Serotype ‘o’ was identified as cause

High mortality and morbidity rate

Mortality-adult cattle & calves

Haemorrhagic septicaemia (HS) –identified as

reason for mortality- in adult cattle

Status of affected animal- worsened due to

existing diseases like Anaplasmosis &

Theileriosis

Both Milk and Meat production –declined

drastically

Under these circumstances Indian Veterinary

Association (IVA) the professional body of

Veterinarians, Kerala has constituted an expert

committee

1. Dr. Nandakumar. S, Veterinary Surgeon, Chief Disease

Investigation Office, Palode

2. Dr. Sunitha Karunakaran, District Epidemiologist,

ADCP, Thrissur

3. Dr. Bineesh.P. P, Veterinary Surgeon, Veterinary

Dispensary, Unnikulam, Calicut

The expert committee members conducted

A detailed enquiry regarding the causes -which lead

to the current FMD outbreak in the state

Offered valuable suggestions for the prevention and

control of such outbreaks in future.

Recommendations to control

future outbreaks of FMD in the

state

Unrestricted introduction of new animals from

neighbouring states (Karnataka and Tamil Nadu)

having FMD outbreak.

Influx of FMD affected animals for slaughter to Kerala.

FMD Vaccination which was due in July 2013 -delayed

by two months -current vaccination phase.

Existing infections like Anaplasmosis, Theileriosis and

parasitic load- affected the herd immunity.

Secondary infections –Haemorrhagic septicaemia

raised the mortality rate in recovered animals.

Denial by the owners to vaccinate their animals - the

misconception of reduction in milk production and fear

of vaccination reactions.

Use of balance vaccines from previous vaccination

campaign.

Possibility of breach of cold chain during

the storage, handling and transportation of

vaccine to the field

Frequent withdrawals from multi dose vials

(100 ml) and use of balance vaccine after a

day’s vaccination might have caused

deterioration in the quality of vaccine.

Immunogenicity & duration of

immunity offered by the present

vaccine especially for serotype O, is

doubtful.

ANIMAL RELATED FACTORS

VACCINE RELATED FACTORS

VACCINE HANDLING

MISCELLANEOUS FACTORS

Vaccination strategy

Three times a year vaccination of FMD in January, May

and September covering 100% population of cattle and

Buffalo and yearly HS vaccination in June-July.

Calves – after initial vaccination at 4 months, booster

vaccination after a month can be thought

Proper deworming & deinfestation of ectoparasites

Dewormers and ectoparasiticides should be distributed

2 weeks prior to vaccination campaign along with health

cards.

Haemorrhagic septicaemia

Increased death rates are reported in FMD recovered

animals due to HS.

A region wise study of Antibiotic Sensitivity Pattern of

Pasteurella multocida in the state is highly recommended

Animals brought from other states -allowed to enter the

state only after FMD vaccination and a quarantine

period of three weeks.

Quarantine facility should be made at the 14 check

posts of the state.

Animals should be under strict clinical inspection of

Veterinarians in these checkposts.

Slaughter houses-near checkposts of the state.

Animals brought from outside state-slaughtered with

ante mortem and post mortem inspection by

Veterinarian.

Only dressed meat or meat products -allowed to enter

the state.

Live animals should not be allowed to enter the state

for slaughter.

Study to be conducted-National agency

1) Antigenic difference/relation of vaccine strain and field

isolated strain of FMD Virus from Kerala.

2) Immunogenicity, duration of immunity and suitability

of strains of the present vaccine, especially of

serotype O.

3) Increasing the antigenic mass in the current

vaccines to prolong the immunity.

4) The nature of the virus, the severity of lesions,

the extent of spread and the host range in the

current outbreak.

A pre vaccination trial

Conducted in field conditions – to ensure

required post vaccination antibody titre in

serum.

Compare the results with controlled conditions

Thermal data loggers- or continuous monitoring

facility -installed in all walk-in coolers-14 districts

Refrigerator-exclusively for storage of vaccine-

should be provided –to all field level institutions

An inverter or automatic generator – for refrigerator

backup -2 KVA-8 to 9 hrs backup-Rs 40,000/-

Non reversible temperature labels on Vaccine

vials –for monitoring cold chain maintenance

A carrier or cool pail-with a special lid -which

can be closed frequently between vaccinations-

adequate numbers to all field level institutions

30 ml vials replaces- 100 ml multi dose vials

Left over vaccine discarded-at end user site

Vaccination programme

1) Publicity- materials reach institutions -2 weeks prior

to vaccination campaign

2) Vaccination time-Team starts from early hours of

day –finish off by 12 Noon

3) Tagging-should not be the duty of vaccinator at the

time of vaccination-time consuming- delay in

completion of vaccination target

Wild life reservoir

A barrier of vaccinated animals must be created

in forest boundaries

Compulsory vaccination in the forest fringes inhabited by

tribal population possessing domestic livestock should be

carried out with the help of Eco Development Committee

and forest department.

Man Power

Central RRT & vaccination squad- for doing

only vaccinations-created for each district

Central Rapid Response Team-under direct

control of ADCP

LI-of subcentres-included in RRT

Each vaccination squad-one LI & one attendant

Each squad- complete vaccination of 30 animals

per day

Vaccination in a panchayath completed within 4-5

days.

Sufficient number of squads is to be allotted -

based on cattle population.

Vehicle facility should be provided to the squads.

.

Ward wise allotment of vaccination duty to the

squads

Rotation of vaccination squads at Taluk/Block

levels to cover all the panchayaths during the

vaccination period

Invigilators - LI of VD/VH/VPC as invigilators of

vaccination.

Invigilators must verify 20% vaccinations done

by each squad the very next day and report it to

VS/SVS

Supervising Officers - 10% of invigilated

vaccinations should be supervised by VS/SVS

Healthy staff – Healthy staff/volunteers should

accompany to assist vaccination and restrain

animals.

Training - Adequate training to the Veterinary

Officers and LI prior to vaccination campaign

Veterinary Professionals -Adequate number

should be posted at the 14 check posts,

slaughter houses and district ADCP urgently

Cost of vaccination- Vaccination free of cost

considering the present outbreak as a serious

disaster to farmers.

At the same time vaccinating own animals should be

the duty of farmers.

Refusal/reluctance of vaccination should be

penalised.

Health Card- One health card per animal

A “Health Card” for identifying the animal,

entering the details of vaccination, treatments

and deworming.

Health Card supplied to farmers 2 weeks prior to

vaccination along with dewormers and

ectoparasiticides

Incentives to farmers- Feed supplements

Gosureksha Insurance –Free for all vaccinated

animals

Hundred percentage vaccination coverage of

susceptible population need to be achieved to

create herd immunity and make the state FMD

free.

Heterogeneity within various serotypes of FMD

virus and thermo stability of the current vaccine

A detailed study of subtypes/topotypes within

serotype ‘O’ of the FMD virus prevalent in the state

and its relationship to the vaccine strain

A suitable vaccination strategy for major diseases

Region wise study of ABS pattern of prevalent

bacterial pathogens

Strict border control measures

Proper vaccine handling and storage facility

Systematic, well supervised and practical

vaccination programme creating herd

immunity

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSIndian Veterinary Association, Kerala is

thankful to Dr. Nandakumar.S, Dr. Sunitha

Karunakaran, Dr. Bineesh.P.P. and

Dr.Asha.T.T. for their dedicated efforts in

preparing this report