HARIPUR, July 21: Foot and mouth, which wreaked havoc with cattle farms two years back, has reportedly recurred in different parts of the Haripur district, exposing thousands of buffaloes to the life-threatening disease, sources said.

The F&M usually attacks the cloven-footed animals. Fresh victims include even those animals that were vaccinated against this disease.

The worst-affected areas are Pandak, Soka, Talokar, Gehrkhan and Khanpur along the Dorr river where a number of buffaloes, particularly mammals, have fallen prey to the disease.

According to observers, affected animals are unable to graze as their feet and mouths are swollen. In some cases, their feet become septic and milk production is considerably reduced.

“This time, my 13 buffaloes have been affected by the killer disease,” said Asif Bhola, a cattle farm-owner in Pandak village. Expressing dissatisfaction over the performance of the local vet hospital, Bhola described the measures taken by the veterinarians as insufficient.

Another buffalo farm-owner, Makhdoomzada, said his nine buffaloes had come under the F&M attack despite the fact that he had immunized them some time back.

According to a veterinarian: “Postorella Multocida, known as F&M, first attacks the foot of its target, rendering it septic and paining within three days. Then it attacks its mouth, leaving the animal to suffer from high fever”.

Another veterinarian held the recent rains responsible for the outbreak of the disease. In reply to a question why vaccinated animals, too, had fallen ill, he said that a lack of proper preservation of vaccine might have rendered it ineffective.

Once an animal fell prey to the F&M, he told, it must be kept isolated from other mammals and in a dry place. He said because of the current wet spell, other diseases like Haemorrhagic Septicemia and Black Quarter were also being reported from different parts of the district.

Answering a question about the budget allocations for vaccination of animals, an official at the district headquarters veterinary hospital said the resources were insufficient to cater to the needs of a large number of mammals, falling under the jurisdiction of over 30 vet centres.

He said the vet hospital had a total budget of Rs66,000, of which 25 per cent was to be allocated for vaccination.

He said a vial of anti-F&M vaccine, costing a buyer Rs600, could be administered to only 20 buffaloes.

When the department was faced with shortage of funds it was hardly possible for anyone to ensure coverage of even 10 per cent of the cattle population, he added.