University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) Vice Chancellor Dr Muhammad Younus has said that continuous surveillance, identification of hotspots, vaccination, monitoring of vaccine effectiveness, biosecurity measures, quarantine at farm level and farmer awareness are important for protecting livestock from the food and mouth disease.

The VC sought suggestions and technical inputs from stakeholders during a consultative session on preventing an outbreak of the foot and mouth disease and boosting the livestock sector.

He said the FMD was a major cause of economic loss for dairy farmers. He underscored the need to make affective policies and establish a task force for the development of the livestock sector.

He said that the UVAS was ready to collaborate with stakeholders to save the sector from the FMD by contributing in research, human resource development and purified vaccine production. Dr Aneela Zameer Durrani said there was a dire need to review the ongoing FMD control strategy.

The participants forward various suggestions, calling for a task force for curbing the outbreak in Punjab. The participants urged to enhance local vaccine production, adopt modern practices for farm management, farmer awareness and establishment of disease-free compartments. Dr Muhammad Akram emphasised legislative backing for bringing the FMD under control.