LAGATAR24 NETWORK
Hazaribag, Aug 3: These days a serious disease PPR (Peste des Petits Ruminants) commonly known as sheep and goat plague has claimed the lives of more than 300 goats in the last few days in the Daru block of the district. This disease has spread in Kablasi, Medkuri, Irga, Harli and Digwar panchayats of the block. More than 150 goats have died so far in the Gadisadam village of Kablasi panchayat itself.
Villagers Santosh Paswan, Shankar Rana, Bhikha Mahto, Kabutari Devi, Sheela Devi, Pati Thakur, Rajesh Rana, Manoj Mahto, Zakir Hussain, Lal Mohammad, Sheeba Mahto, Dilip Kumar and many others suffered huge loss due to the death of goats in large numbers.
Vimala Kumari and Mahesh Kumar, travelling veterinarians of Daru block identified this disease as PPR which occurs in goats during the rainy season. Insects are also eaten by goats with grass due to which this disease spreads, the duo said. The symptoms of this disease are fever, as well as goats and sheep, stop eating and drinking.
They said animals die within three to four days of getting infected by this disease. “If goats die due to this disease, then inform us. Goats will be vaccinated for its prevention,” they added.
According to doctors, Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), also known as sheep and goat plague, is a highly contagious animal disease affecting domestic and wild small ruminants. It is caused by a virus belonging to the genus Morbillivirus, family Paramixoviridae. Once newly introduced, the virus can infect up to 90 per cent of an animal herd, and the disease kills anywhere up to 70 per cent of infected animals. The PPR virus does not infect humans.
