Sheep die of mystery disease in Rajapalayam villages

Sheep pox suspected; Animal Husbandry officials investigating

Following complaints from farmers that sheep are dying due to a mysterious disease in and around Zamin Kollankondan near here in the past few days, special teams of Animal Husbandry officials are investigating the cause of death.

A farmer, D. Muthuraj, 49, said that he had lost 10 sheep in the last few days. “Many farmers in this area have been losing two or three sheep every day for more than a week,” he said. Suspecting that the sheep might have been infected with sheep pox, the farmers had administered vaccine bought from a private pharmacy. “We do not get any support from the local veterinary hospital,” he complained.