After peafowl in Thar, mystery disease strikes camels in Dadu

KARACHI – A mysterious disease has claimed lives of around 100 camels in the Johi area of Kasho, Dadu district within 15 days, severely affecting the day-to-day routine of the people highly-dependant on the beasts of burden.
In January an outbreak of a mysterious disease had reportedly killed around 200 peafowl in the Thar Desert, raising fears that the disease might completely wipe out the already endangered bird. It was reported that about eight to 10 birds were dying every day in the areas of Kehri and Islamkot union councils, Tharparkar district.
Meanwhile, the population of Kasho, a hilly area in the Dadu district, depends on camels for travelling, milk and meat among other purposes, and is genuinely upset over the emerging situation with loss of their animals, said to be worth over Rs 0.2 million.
“A team of veterinary doctors has collected some body parts of dead camels and taken them away for laboratory testing but there has been no respite in camel casualties in the area,” said a local journalist, Asif Jamali, while talking with Pakistan Today on Thursday.
Livestock owners in the area say that on an estimate, the cattle farmers – who are already poor and also affected by floods – have suffered losses of around Rs 20 million so far due to the death of camels, he added.
The camel owners of the area have also lodged a protest against the authorities concerned for not reaching out to the poor people and save their costly animals while camel carcasses are lying along the roadsides and agricultural lands.
When the locals approached some veterinary doctors, they responded that they had seen such disease for the first time and have no idea on what medicines should be given to save the camels.
Dadu Livestock District Officer Habibullah Jamali confirmed about the deadly disease outbreak in camels.
Four years ago, another similar disease was noticed in the Koshitan area of Sehwan and three months ago in the Thar district but it has emerged in Kasho for the first time, he added.
“We initially thought the disease was some routine infection in camels but we have sent body parts from dead animals to a laboratory in Tando Jam and are awaiting their report,” said Jamali, adding that 400 camels have been given doses of antibiotics.
Reportedly, the camels first show symptoms of flue and cough and then die within three days. The animals have been badly hit by the mysterious disease in around 30 villages including Kher Shah, Rajo Dero, Thor, Laudo Dero, Nag Jo Koh, Sobho, Doltani, Bhakhshi jo Koh, Wahi Pandhi and Rajo Ghando. It has to be noted that the Kasho area of Sindh including Johi are the breeding grounds of camels.