Vaccination of sacrificial animals must before entry in markets

Rawalpindi: The traders would get their animals vaccinated before bringing them in the cattle markets and the Livestock Department will verify and approve their claims on arrival of the animals.

Commissioner of Rawal-pindi Azmat Mehmood has directed the Livestock Department that veterinary teams and officials of the Livestock Department must monitor the arrival of animals in the cattle markets to ensure all of them have been properly vaccinated against the Congo virus.

He said the relevant officials must keep vigil and ensure proper vaccination of the animals and frequent spray in the cattle markets for prevention of diseases especially Congo virus.

The commissioner also stated that there should be proper sanitation at the site of the cattle markets by concerned departments mainly livestock and veterinary, adding "Public use insect repellents should be encouraged to save animals and ourselves from ticks, through which the disease is known to spread."

It is pertinent to mention here that at least 35 cases of the Congo virus have been reported in the country this year and six patients who contracted the Congo virus died during treatment.

Dr. Zaman Malik said the animals should be inspected in places well away from populated city areas and the relevant authorities should carry out fumigation in animal-keeping sites before, during and after Eid.