Guwahati: An outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) among Mithuns and Japanese Encephalitis (JE) among pigs has been reported from Kamba circle in West Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh.
As per reports, at least 18 Mithuns (Bos frontalis) have died due to FMD, prompting the district administration to impose a ban on the transportation and sale of meat from all hooved animals, including Mithuns, pigs, cattle and sheep, as a precautionary measure.
The Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department has set up a quarantine gate at Wak village, which lies on the boundary between Aalo and Kamba circles along the Aalo–Kamba–Mechuka Road, to prevent the spread of the disease.
As per officials, the containment measures are crucial, as FMD spreads rapidly among hooved animals such as cattle, sheep, pigs and Mithuns — a semi-domesticated bovine species that holds significant cultural and economic value in the state.
The department is being assisted by volunteers from the Tani Ao Mithun Farmers’ Welfare Society, officials added. The quarantine will remain in effect until it is officially lifted by the department.
An outbreak of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) has also been detected among pigs in the same region.
The disease was first identified in Libu Bene village and is now spreading to other nearby villages. The infection was confirmed by the ICAR–National Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Disease Informatics (NIVEDI), Bengaluru.
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JE-related pig deaths have also been reported from Gemo Tali village, where no FMD cases have been observed among Mithuns, Dr. Kamchi added.
The department has launched treatment and preventive measures to control both outbreaks, including vaccination, disinfection drives and awareness campaigns among local farmers.
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