Jumbos at Guruvayur Devaswom free from foot-and-mouth disease

Sixty-two elephants belonging to the famous Guruvayur temple are free from foot-and-mouth disease reported in Kerala since the first week of this month, a noted elephantologist said today.
A team of veterinarians led by Dr K C Panicker examined all the elephants under the shelter of the Guruvayur Devaswom today and found none was affected with the FMD, he said.
According to reports, wild animal population of the State are at risk of contracting the FMD.
The elephant shelter was closed since yesterday for fear of spread of the disease to animals there.
Panicker said Devaswom authorities have been asked to take preventive measures.

As part of the measures, the Devaswom has been advised to make a trough and fill it with water with four per cent strong Sodium carbonite and walk the elephants through it daily and the shelter would be opened to public only after the process is completed, he said.
On an average over 1,000 persons visited the shelter daily, Devaswom sources said.
According to official sources, 861 animals have died of the disease and over 15,000 animals affected in the district.