Sri Vijaya Puram, June 2: The Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services (AH&VS) has launched a month-long Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) mass vaccination campaign across South Andaman, aiming to safeguard the Andaman and Nicobar Islands’ disease-free status and strengthen livestock health management.
The campaign marks the 33rd round and seventh phase of the National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP), a flagship initiative of the Government of India designed to eradicate Foot and Mouth Disease and Brucellosis among livestock. The vaccination drive is being implemented under the Centrally Sponsored Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme (LH&DCP).
To ensure comprehensive coverage, the department has constituted 11 specialised teams comprising vaccinators, veterinary personnel and animal handlers. The teams are working under the supervision of Senior Veterinary Officers and have been deployed across various locations in South Andaman to reach livestock owners and ensure timely vaccination of animals.
Alongside vaccination, the department has initiated a large-scale ear-tagging exercise, which officials say is a crucial component of the national disease-control strategy. Ear tagging enables accurate identification of animals, maintenance of health records and effective tracking of vaccination status, thereby improving monitoring and disease surveillance systems.
Foot and Mouth Disease is a highly contagious viral infection that affects cloven-hoofed animals, including cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats and pigs. Although the disease rarely causes large-scale mortality in adult animals, it significantly impacts productivity, leading to reduced milk yield, weight loss, reproductive issues and economic losses for farmers.
Officials noted that sustained preventive measures and regular vaccination campaigns have helped the Andaman and Nicobar Islands maintain an FMD-free status for the past six years. The latest campaign is aimed at preserving that achievement and preventing any future outbreaks that could adversely affect the livestock sector and rural livelihoods.
The National Animal Disease Control Programme was launched to create a disease-free livestock population across the country through systematic vaccination and identification of animals. Experts believe that achieving disease-free status not only benefits farmers through improved productivity but also enhances opportunities for livestock trade and strengthens food security.
The department has appealed to livestock owners across South Andaman to cooperate fully with vaccination teams by ensuring that animals are made available on scheduled dates and are properly ear-tagged. Officials emphasized that community participation remains critical for the success of the campaign.
Veterinary authorities said widespread vaccination coverage is necessary to create herd immunity and prevent the spread of infection among susceptible animals. They also highlighted that disease prevention is far more cost-effective than managing outbreaks and their economic consequences.
The campaign is expected to continue throughout the month, covering cattle, buffaloes, goats, sheep and pigs across villages and rural settlements. Veterinary teams will undertake door-to-door and field-based operations to maximize outreach and ensure no eligible animal is left out of the vaccination programme.
Officials expressed confidence that the coordinated efforts of veterinary personnel, livestock owners and local stakeholders would help sustain the Islands’ FMD-free record and contribute to the long-term growth of the livestock sector. The drive is also expected to strengthen disease surveillance systems and improve animal health management practices across the archipelago.
