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
 Great
footed animals –mainly affected
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
 The
from August 2013
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
 High
‘o’ was identified as cause
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
drastically
and
Meat
production
–declined
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
deterioration in the quality of vaccine.
caused

Immunogenicity & duration of immunity
offered
by
the
present
vaccine
especially for serotype O, is doubtful.
 ANIMAL
RELATED FACTORS
 VACCINE
 VACCINE
RELATED FACTORS
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 vaccineshould 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
penalised.
of
vaccination
should
be

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
ectoparasiticides
with
dewormers
and

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
immunity
programme
creating
herd
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Indian
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