DUNGUN: After Kuala Nerus, Marang and Kuala Terengganu last month, haemorrhagic septicaemia (HS) disease is now killing cattles in Dungun.
So far, 38 animals, owned by nine villagers in Kampung Padang Pulut have been found to have perished after contracting the disease.
HS is a contagious bacterial disease and it affects cattle and water buffaloes with a high mortality rate in infected animals. It is regarded as one of the most serious diseases of large ruminants in Southeast Asia.
State Veterinary Department director Dr Mohd Termizi Ghazali said the disease was found to have infected cattles in Kampung Padang Pulut since Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
He said the department inspected 570 cows owned by 19 villagers and found that 38 of the dead cattles were infected by the HS.
"We had to help the villagers by providing vaccine injection on their animals and advised them to keep their animals from straying to prevent the spreading the HS disease to other cows in the village," he said today.
Dr Mohd Termizi said the department also held discussions with the villagers today to educate them on the symptoms of the disease and action to be taken to prevent further spread, including quarantine measures.
"Our 13 officers will help the villagers identify the infected cows and provide the vaccine immediately. We will also administer the vaccine to any cow within a five kilometre radius,” he added.
Last month, 354 cows owned by 18 villagers from Kuala Terengganu, Kuala Nerus and Marang were killed by HS. The department had vaccinated 5,395 cows in the three districts.