Morung Express News
Dimapur | May 3
there is wide spread fear and uncertainty over the recent outbreak of swine flu with reports that Asia has also been hit by the virulent flu. Closer home, there are confirmed reports of certain bovine species — cows and mithuns dying in large numbers. This has been reported from villages in Peren district. Informing of this, a local leader in Jalukie disclosed that around April 25, ten mithuns belonging to a single farmer in Dungki village perished under mysterious circumstances. Similarly in Jalukie ‘B’ village, it was reported that four mithuns and two cows also died all of a sudden.
The latest death toll of the mithuns, comes in the backdrop of another similar outbreak of disease, which had struck Chaoha – a small village located 46 kilometers from Mon headquarters sometime in November-December last year. As reported in The Morung Express, close to 300 animals have perished from the dreaded Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), which infests the hooves, leaving them unable to walk and graze, ultimately causing them to die of starvation.
While it is difficult to state whether the death toll of mithuns in Peren area is due to Foot and Mouth Disease, villagers from the area said the animals would suddenly fall to the ground; their body would begin to swell and then froth from the mouth. The affected animals also refused to eat. The villagers have appealed for help from the Veterinary Department to come and assess the situation and to help contain the virus from spreading further. Villagers are worried that infection of their livestock will cause extensive damage to the economy of the farming community. The animals play a major role in farming, the paddy fields, and with the planting season arriving there is fear and uncertainty for the villagers.
