According to a report the foot and mouth disease has taken an epidemic form, killing Mithuns in Matupi Township, Chin state, Burma. Though the disease has been in evidence since early July, no official response to control the epidemic has been reported.

The disease was first noticed in Sa Tu village, 20 miles from the Indo-Burma border. The disease has also spread to the surrounding areas of Pa Sin village.

“The death of Mithuns from the disease was also reported from Pa Sin village. Sa Tu village is the worst hit,” says a villager in Sa Tu.

While the death toll of Mithuns in Sa Tu village is being recorded the same cannot be done in Pa Sin village. Villagers are busy burying the carcass of Mithuns. The disease can afflict dogs as it feasts on the meat of the dead Mithuns at night, sources added.

The villagers are ignorant about measures to control the epidemic. The villagers are alarmed because they feel they may be afflicted. No government and non government organization has come forward to fight the epidemic.

“There is no project for the prevention of animal diseases and we have no knowledge of how to prevent it,” said a medic in the area.

Mr. Thet, Secretary of the Federal Trade Union of Chinland, said that the rising death toll of Mithuns may ‘affect the monetary fund’ necessary for children’s schooling of villagers.

Mithun are reared by Sa Tu and Pa Sin villagers for family necessities. There is no household without a Mithun in these villages.

A four to six year-old Mithun is sold at a price raging between Kyat 1,50,000 – 1,80,000. The price a Mithun fetches is basically used as school fees for students, medicines and household necessities. - KNG