Abu Dhabi, September 21, 2010: Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) launched yesterday the second annual vaccination campaign against contagious and epidemic diseases affecting livestock. The campaign, named 'Livestock are a Blessing; Protect them by Vaccination,' covers Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and the Western Region.

A spokesperson from ADFCA said the Animal Wealth Sector of the Authority would vaccinate animals against four diseases: Contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP), Foot and Mouth disease (FMD), Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), Sheep and goats pox and the process would be completed in no more than two doses separated by a few months. "The aim of the campaign is to immunize the animals through these vaccinations and eventually root out the diseases, leading to better productivity and health for the livestock," he explained.

A total of four visits to each farm will be required for the purpose, while Enterotoxaemia and Pasturullosis has been exempted from the campaign due to negligible incidence of these diseases. Vaccinations against these diseases are currently done only in areas where they are commonly found and as part of the vaccination drive for camels.  The focus is to take the campaign to its logical conclusion in areas focused during the first annual campaign. The first annual campaign in 2009 -2010 completed around 8 million doses in all the three regions of the emirate.

The spokesperson said that the Animal Wealth Sector of the Authority is currently running a vaccination campaign against diseases affecting camels as well. Prior to the launch of the campaign, the Authority ran an awareness drive through the distribution of 6000 brochures detailing diseases affecting livestock, he added.