Bangladeshi Government Plans to Produce Foot and Mouth Disease Vaccine Locally
Dhaka, Feb 23 (IANS) – Bangladeshi Fisheries and Livestock Minister Abdur Rahman has announced that the government is planning to produce foot and mouth disease (FMD) vaccine for livestock locally, as the current local vaccine market for FMD is rapidly expanding.
During a question-answer session at the National Parliament, the minister stated, “The government has a plan to produce FMD vaccine for the livestock locally instead of importing,” reported Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS).
Minister Rahman revealed that a decision has been made to establish a research center for manufacturing the vaccine locally in order to address the major challenge faced by the livestock sector in Bangladesh.
“The FMD is a major challenge for the livestock sector in Bangladesh,” he said. “Most animals infected with FMD still remain untreated due to the unavailability of the vaccine.”
The minister also emphasized that the locally produced vaccine will be more effective and cost-effective than imported ones, contributing to a boost in the country’s livestock sector, which currently incurs a loss of 125 million U.S. dollars per year due to the disease.
He further added that the price per unit vaccine will be halved when production begins in the country.
This development is crucial for the livestock industry in Bangladesh and shows the government’s commitment to addressing the challenges faced by the sector. The decision to produce FMD vaccine locally is a significant step towards ensuring the health and well-being of the country’s livestock.
