Guidelines for National Action Plan for Control and Eradication of Glanders in India
The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has come out with a national action plan to check deadly disease glanders. Glanders is a contagious and fatal disease of equines, including horses, donkeys and mules. It is caused by infection due to the bacterium Burkholderia mallei (B mallei).
Population of equines (horses/pony, donkey and mules) in India is 11.7 lakh which is spread almost all over the country. There was an outbreak of glanders in West Delhi district and it was declared glanders affected zone in 2017-18. The movement of equines was affected and it had an effect on the Republic Day parade. As per agriculture ministry data, 407 cases of glanders reported in 2017-18.
As per the action plan, infected animal should be eliminated immediately. “The Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Disease in Animals (form of vaccination certificate manner of post mortem examination and disposal of carcass) Rules 2010, in vogue need to be followed. In case absolutely essential, the positive animal may be transported to appropriate area for destruction and further disposal in closed vehicles. All the zoo-sanitary measures should be followed at the time of culling and disposal of carcasses.
The owners shall produce a certificate of a Glanders’ test with negative results carried out on samples drawn within 30 days. Equids with prescribed “Health Card” shall only be permitted to move between states’. Also, according to the new plan, the veterinary authority of a state where many adjoining districts have reported the disease, shall take a decision about whether to permit a fair or not.
According to the new plan, fairs, congregations, shows or any equestrian events would be permitted in a district provided that there has been no case of glanders in the district itself and in the adjoining districts during the past one year and ongoing surveillance is in place.
“Equines showing any clinical sign and pathology of glanders shall not be allowed to enter in the event venue. In equine fairs, an animal shall have its own feeding and watering arrangement. Common watering and feeding shall not be permitted,” it said.
“Protective clothing including full body aprons, face masks, rubber/latex disposable gloves and long shoes to be used by persons in close contact with the diseased animal. If euthanasia is to be performed, the use of Pentobarbital combination could be used. The standard dose of thiopental sodium is 1 gram/100 kg body weight. The same could be increased or decreased depending upon the susceptibility of the horses,” the guidelines said.
National Action Plan for Control and Eradication of Glanders in India
