Disease claims 300 animals in 20 days

ASKA: Foot and mouth disease (FMD) has claimed 300 cloven hoofs animals in the last 20 days. A highly contagious disease, it affects cattle, sheep, goats and pigs. Sources said about 40 goats and sheep have died in the last five days, while 50 have been infected. Similarly, about eight calves and two cows have died and 25 others infected with Black Quarter, a bacterial disease of cattle, at Pandiapathara, Betanati, Sidhanai and Badakholi gram panchayats. The villagers alleged that no steps had been taken by the livestock inspector office and Aska veterinary hospital authorities to check the epidemic.