The District Magistrate of Champhai imposed a blanket ban on cattle import from Myanmar on October 21.

According to the District Magistrate – James Lalrinchhana, the decision has been taken as several cows were ‘suspected’ of being infected with Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).

The Directorate of Animal Husbandry officials noted that the samples will be sent to Guwahati for laboratory tests.

It is worth noting that several diseases like swine flu and other respiratory diseases, were allegedly found in cattle imports from Myanmar.

The disease is a highly contagious viral vesicular disease of cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats, pigs, etc., leading to reduction in milk yield, decreased growth rate, infertility, reduced working capacity in bullocks, trade embargo in the international market.

FMD can be controlled through mass vaccination of susceptible livestock repeatedly at regular intervals till the incidence of the disease comes down.