Ludhiana: Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana is organizing a National Workshop and Brainstorming on “Strategy on control and eradication of formidable transboundary viral diseases of Livestock such as Food and Mouth disease (FMD), Lumpy skin disease (LSD) and African Swine fever (ASF) from 14-15 November 2022 in collaboration with National Academy of Veterinary Sciences (NAVS), India. To address the Academia-Industry, Policy makers and farmers, scientists from prestigious institutions, animal health policy makers, vaccine manufacturers, progressive farmers of dairy & piggery associations are participating in this event to discuss the emerging health challenges and their possible prevention and control in India.
FMD, LSD and ASF are highly contagious devastating diseases of livestock, wherein FMD and LSD affect cattle and buffaloes, while ASF causes disease in pigs. FMD is endemic in the country, however, both LSD and ASF are transboundary diseases, reported earlier in the neighbouring countries of India’s. Dr. Inderjeet Singh, Vice-Chancellor GADVASU and Organizing secretary stated that these viral diseases put a huge socio-economic impact on the dairy and piggery sector in terms of production as well as monetary losses.
Dr. JPS Gill, Director of Research and co-organizing secretary informed that the scientific and technical deliberations during workshop and brainstorming will definitely help in the formulation of national guidelines to combat the emerging challenges of FMD, LSD and ASF. Dr. YPS Malik, Dean, College of Animal Biotechnology, GADVASU and co-organizing secretary said that the dairy farming communities will also be highly beneficial through such types of workshops, in terms of disease identification, diagnostic facility, treatment and vaccination schedule of the animals. Different types of myths will also be discussed based on the scientific backgrounds and clear recommendations will be given to avoid unnecessary economic losses to the livestock owners.