A feared livestock disease has made its way into one of Arunachal Pradesh’s most remote valleys — and right now, government teams are in a race against time to stop it from spreading further.
The Outbreak That Shook Dibang Valley
Foot and Mouth Disease — commonly known as FMD — has broken out among livestock in Dibang Valley, triggering an urgent, multi-agency response that has brought both state and central government teams into the field. Joint teams of the Centre and Arunachal Pradesh government intensified containment measures following the outbreak among livestock in Dibang Valley, officials confirmed on Sunday, August 16. For communities whose lives and livelihoods depend entirely on their animals — especially Mithuns — this is not just a health crisis. It is a threat to everything they have.
Boots on the Ground — Who’s Doing What
The response has been anything but slow on paper. The containment operation involves the State Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department, Rapid Response Teams (RRTs), the district administration, and a visiting central team, focused on treatment, surveillance, sample collection and disease control. According to District Veterinary Officer Dr D Riba, an RRT from Itanagar reached Anini on August 8 with medicines and supplies, after which three dedicated RRTs were constituted and deployed across affected areas. That’s a fairly quick mobilisation for a district as geographically challenging as Dibang Valley, where roads and terrain can make urgency feel like a distant luxury.
Central Team Goes Deep Into the Field
A central team led by Joint Commissioner Dr VK Teotia arrived in the district on August 13 and conducted field assessments on August 14 and 15 in Acheso, Angrim Valley, Aropo up to Chegu Camp, Mipi Circle, Maro, 9 Kilo and Matu Camp. During these visits, the team did not just tick boxes — infected animals were treated, medicines distributed and diagnostic samples collected from Mithuns, pigs and goats, while post-mortem examinations were also conducted. They also visited an Indo-Tibetan Border Police camp at Acheso, where blood samples were collected from goats and personnel were briefed on disease epidemiology, biosecurity measures and public health safeguards.
Local Leaders Step Up
It is worth noting that this response has not been purely bureaucratic. Anini MLA Mopi Mihu provided medicines and logistical support to the containment operation and assured administrative assistance to protect the livelihoods of farmers and Mithun owners. Dibang Valley Zilla Parishad Chairperson Sadhu Mihu and Acheso-Angrim Valley ZP Member Eta Mihu also accompanied the experts during field surveys. That kind of on-ground political presence actually matters in a region where trust between communities and officials can make or break a public health response.
What Comes Next
The central team departed Anini on Sunday with collected samples and specimens for advanced laboratory examination. The RRTs, however, are staying put. Dr Riba confirmed that the RRTs would remain stationed in the district until the outbreak is fully contained, with additional teams to be deployed if required. Authorities have also reminded the public that FMD vaccination is administered twice a year and remains the primary measure to prevent the spread of the disease, urging livestock and Mithun owners to cooperate with vaccination drives, promptly report suspected infections and follow recommended biosecurity and animal-waste disposal practices.
The animals cannot ask for help. The communities depending on them can — and right now, those communities need every vaccination, every team, and every government commitment to actually follow through.
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