THATTA: The sudden death of about five dozen priced camel species over the past few days has sent a wave of shock in those local communities who specialise in rearing the breed and the provincial livestock department.

A joint team of the livestock department, Central Vet­e­ri­nary Diagnostic Labora­tory (CVDL) and Sindh Poultry Vaccine Centre (SPVC), accompanied by vets and livestock experts, rushed to Mohammed Khan Jatt village and established a camp to ascertain the cause of what is believed to be an outbreak.

Animal husbandry deputy director Dr Salahuddin, Tando Jam CVDL research officer Asif Manzoor and Karachi SPVC director Nazir Hussian Kalhoro told Dawn that they were directed by the Livestok Minister Jam Shoro to establish the camp and take immediate measures to identify and check the outbreak.

They said suspecting the outbreak to be ‘camel pox’, they had brought with them the relevant vaccines and drugs. However, they added, the actual virus or disease leading to the camel mortalities was yet to be determined.

The blood and flash samples of the affected camels were collected and sent to various laboratories.

The deaths of camels were reported from Mohammad Khan Jatt, Moosa Jatt, Johu, UC Mehar, Keti Bunder, Kharo Chhann, Ghorabari and some other coastal towns and villages.

Owners of the dead animals say that swelling appears on an affected camel’s toes obstructing its movement and then pimples appear on the face and other parts of the body.

Bleeding from the affected parts follows and the camel collapses.

The single-humped camel breed is known as ‘Kharai’ and is a priced animal for being in great demand in Gulf countries.

It survives for long in deserts and can swim, unlike other breeds, experts say.

Around 500 Jatt and other communities in Thatta own herds of female camels and rear the breed for sale within the country and in some Gulf countries.

Camel milk is also a major source of their income.

Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2014