DADU: More than a dozen cattle, including buffalos and goats, died within past three days after an outbreak of diseases feared to be foot-and-mouth disease (Fmd) or haemorrhagic septicaemia (HS) among livestock in several villages of the district, according to livestock owners and dairy farmers.

The disease killed two buffalos and three calves in Rajub Rind village and eight cattle including goats, cows and buffalos in Moundar, Aminiani, Jhallo Phulji, Piarogoth and Khudabad villages.

Talking to Dawn, Nisar Ahmed Rind, village head of Rajub Rind village, said that he had informed officials of animal husbandry and livestock department about the disease but no official bothered to visit the village and check the ill animals.

Wahid Bux, a cattle owner in Moundar village, said that 12 of his goats, buffalos and cows had contracted the disease and he could do nothing but wait for the doctors and see his animals die.

The disease has so far killed eight cattle including goats, cows and buffalos in Moundar, Aminiani, Jhallo Phulji, Piarogoth, Khudabad villages.

The deputy director of animal husbandry department, Dr Habibullah Jamali, said that it was a seasonal foot-and-mouth disease and haemorrhagic septicaemia which was locally called ‘Maharo’. He said the Fmd caused puss-filled sores on the mouth and hooves of an animal and it died within 10 to 15 days after contracting the disease.

He said that he had launched a drive of vaccination to control the seasonal diseases and a total of 31,000 animals had been vaccinated against HS and Fmd.