Look into saving animals affected by the floods

By S.Param

It is heartening to note that the government together with the media and several NGOs are doing whatever necessary to help out those affected in the going flood episodes. The decision by the government to set up so many flood relief centres with adequate food, clean water and other essential items to the affected flood victims is laudable.

The army, police, Fire and Rescue Department and all other relevant government and private agencies’ personnel should be commended for their highly organised, committed and dedicated services to the flood affected population during these difficult times.

The recent decision by the health authorities to set up several special healthcare centres to cater for flood victims is timely. This will ensure the flood victims gets immediate medical care for any flood-related ailment or injuries. More importantly, it will help detect and prevent any outbreak of infectious water-borne diseases before it spiral out to be an epidemic.

In any natural disaster, be it flooding, earthquake, tsunami, etc, it is natural for us to give high priority in saving human lives and attending to their sufferings. However, humanity does not revolve around saving human lives and alleviating their sufferings alone. Humanity encompasses everything related to taking care of human sufferings, etc, and it goes beyond that.

We also need to consider wherever practical during natural disasters of this nature to see how best we can help save the hundreds of pets, livestock and other animals that are equally affected in the floods.

These poor animals which are living in our midst and have been part and parcel of our environment and nature ought to given due consideration as soon as we have effectively taken care of our fellow men.

I appeal to the Agriculture Ministry, as well as the veterinary authorities and animal welfare NGOs, to look into ways and means to save and alleviate the suffering of pets (cats, rabbits, dogs, etc) and other animals caught in these floods.

Ideally, veterinary authorities equipped with the knowledge, equipment and facilities should immediately set up animal treatment and rescue centres in the affected areas. If there is a need, the authorities can seek the help of volunteers from the animal welfare organisations in the country.

Injured and dead animals in the badly flood-hit areas may pose a threat to public health if they are not treated or the dead animal carcasses are not removed in time.

 It must be pointed out that the spread of the notorious leptospirosis infection (an animal-borne disease) has been reported to spike during and after major floods in South-East Asia, according to many scientific studies.

The causative agent of leptospira is contagious in moist environment. Although rats and other rodents play an important role in the spread of the infection, there are a wide range of other mammals including dogs, deer, rabbits, cattle, buffaloes, sheep, and pigs that have been reported to also carry and transmit leptospirosis. Imagine if these animals that are killed in the floods are left to rot in the flood waters!

According to meteorological predictions, it appears that the worst is not over yet and we must be prepared for more flooding episodes in the lowland areas in many parts of the country.