Foot-and-mouth disease breaks out among cows in Manaung Twsp

By DMG 16 Jul 2022

DMG Newsroom
16 July 2022, Manaung 

An outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease has been reported among cattle across several villages in Arakan State’s Manaung Township, according to local residents. 

Around 200 head of cattle are suffering from the disease in Myatmachaung, Minpyin, Letmepyin, Thingaza, Kyeenyo, and Myaynyipyin villages, said residents. 

“Their hoofs are hurting, and they don’t eat. None of them has yet died. In my village, some 40 cows are suffering from the disease,” said Ko Aung Tun Sein from Minpyin village. 

Local farmers are having difficulties as they still mainly use cows to plough farms, and now is the monsoon paddy cultivation season, said U Soe Tun from Myaynipyin village. 

“We are already struggling as costs have increased this year. What’s worse, we can’t use cows for farming. It costs nearly 100,000 kyats per acre to [rent and] farm with machines. But we can’t leave our farms idle, and we have to grow with machines,” he said. 

Locals said they are having their cattle treated by veterinarians. DMG was unable to contact Dr. Than Win, an officer of the Manaung Township Livestock and Veterinary Science Department, for comment. 

Many cows died during a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Manaung Township last year, exacting a heavy toll on local cow breeders.