Indian Immunologicals Ltd (IIL) has launched Goat Pox Vaccine (Raksha Goat Pox) which is expected to help Control Goat Pox disease.
“Indian Immunologicals is committed to introducing such products for the national interest and will abundantly help marginal livestock growers of their livelihood and protect their flock from various diseases,” K Anand Kumar, Managing Director, IIL said in a release.
India has about 150 million Goat population and this disease is endemic in many parts of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Goat Pox is highly contagious and spreads through aerosol, contact, and also through vectors such as flies. Goats of all ages and breeds are affected but the disease is very severe in young, old, and lactating animals.
The disease is characterized by high fever, generalized nodules/papules over the skin, face, mucus membranes of the mouth, conjunctiva, nasal cavities, severe internal lesions (lungs, reproductive and digestive tracts), and finally results in death in many cases.
ISIL’s Raksha Goat Pox vaccine is a live attenuated vaccine I.P. (Uttarkashi strain) grown on Vero Cell Culture. The Primary vaccination is to be done at 3 months of age and revaccination annually with a dose rate of 1 ml, to be administered subcutaneously.
The technology for vaccine manufacturing and testing of Goat Pox Vaccine was obtained from the Indian Council of Agriculture Research – Indian Veterinary Research Institute (ICAR- IVRI), Government of India and has been tested and certified by IVRI for commercial release.
