SWINE-FLU UPDATES

What has swines to do with swine-flu? The present outbreak in Mexico and spillover to other countries (verge of a pandemic) is caused by a influenza virus strain (H1N1) that mutated from human, avian and swine strains, possibly in the near past (months or could be years). The name "swine-flu" has been debated and protested worldover, but surely this has given swines a bad name. Read more at.................. http://www.emaxhealth.com/1020/90/30743/what-name-swine-flu.html
Know all about SWINE-INFLUENZA from WHO
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html
WHO raises alert level- read story from link
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090427/ap_on_he_me/med_swine_flu
Goa screening for swine flu - read story from link
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200904282201.htm
Swine flu spreads to Asia Pacific - read story from link
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=alMIh3O1hIA8&refer=home

RESEARCH COLLABORATION WITH FVSc & AH

The faculty is able to provide many levels of collaboration, research, and research support addressing both basic and clinical problems in the biosciences, with applications in veterinary and human medicine. The various collaborative avenues are:
· Consultancy
· Research collaboration/contracts
· Studentships
· Clinical trials
Organizations in the animal health, pharmaceutical, biotechnology and other healthcare sectors interested in collaborating with our faculty, sponsoring research or exploring our research capabilities please contact Faculty Dean.

WORLD VETERINARY DAY (25th APRIL 2009)

The World veterinary Association has declared 25th April as the WORLD VETERINARY DAY 2009. The theme for the World Veterinary Day 2009 is “Veterinarians and Livestock Farmers: a winning partnership”

World Veterinary Day was instigated by the World Veterinary Association in 2000 to be celebrated annually on the last Saturday of April. In 2008 the WVA and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) agreed on the creation of the World Veterinary Day Award aimed at rewarding the most successful celebration of the veterinary profession by national veterinary associations, alone, or in cooperation with any other selected veterinary body. The 2009 Award will be delivered at the 77th OIE General Assembly to be held in Paris, France on 24-29 May 2009. The prize: US$ 1,000 will be donated to the winner.

THEME FOR THE YEAR 2009
Veterinarians and livestock farmers, a winning partnership
Today more than ever, outbreaks of some animal diseases, particularly those harmful to humans (zoonoses) can cause considerable economic and social upheaval and send a wave of panic at national, regional or global level. Recent crises have shown how a serious health event for the animal kingdom can have a global impact on the rural economy and consumers and constitute a threat to public health. An early warning associated with a rapid response is key to fight contagious animal diseases at source, through the integration of all relevant stakeholders in the prevention and disease control mechanisms.
Veterinarians play a key role in all countries as guarantors of animal health and public health. But the effectiveness of their action is strongly linked to and dependent on their relationship with farmers. Livestock farmers all around the world are the first sentinels of animal disease events and a rapid response in the fight against animal diseases cannot leave aside their crucial role. They are also the first to suffer from animal diseases through important losses in their livelihood. Experience has shown the importance of organisational and economic factors in enabling the world’s 600 million livestock farmers to fulfil their role in the chain of protection. Improvement of their animal health training through the support of veterinarians must be considered central to the risk anticipation and risk mutualisation strategies that the international community will increasingly have to initiate.

The 2009 Award will reward the veterinary association who will best publicise the theme by involving the livestock farmers in the organisation of events along with all other stakeholders such as the media and the general public.

The faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry has also arranged various activities to mark this occassion. The active participation by all faculty members to celebrate the occassion is anticipated.

Let's celebrate together and make this occassion a success!

FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES MEET on 24th APRIL 2009

The Faculty of Post-Graduate Studies meet today at SKUAST-Jammu Main Campus, Chatha to discuss various aspects of post-graduate education in the University. Salient features of discussion would be regarding revamping of post-graduate syllabi and curricula as prescribed by Education Divison, ICAR and its introduction.

FACULTY BOARD OF STUDIES MEET on 22nd APRIL 2009

The Faculty Board of Studies meet was conducted on 22nd April 2009 where critical issues pertaining to academic matters were deliberated and discussed.
The meeting was chaired by Dr. A.R. Nazki, Dean of the faculty who addressed the house on a variety of academic matters. The adoption of a new and revised veterinary curriculum as notified by VCI (vide- The Gazette of India Extraordinary Part III-Sec.4, dated 06/08/2008) was the main topic of discussion and debate. In the light of the new recommendations of VCI, various existing courses/divisions are likely to be amalgamated or discontinued and new ones introduced. A brief outline of the new recommendations was presented during the meet. Other salient points discussed were maintaining and adhering to a strict attendance record of 75% for qualifying to appear in end term exams; abolishment of re-evaluation of answer scripts (both theory and practical) as per new VCI notification (Scrutiny limited to re-totaling/unmarked answers, etc. only); strengthening up audio-visual aids in classrooms; strengthening instructional livestock farms, necropsy laboratories; social service and extra-curricular activities; proposal for remount veterinary corps under NCC, etc.
The meeting ended with a vote of thanks from Dr. R.K. Sharma, Member Secretary, Faculty Board of Studies

RAGGING a curse on our society

"'Ragging' means the doing of any act which causes, or is likely to cause any physical, psychological or physiological harm of apprehension or shame or embarrassment to a student, and includes– (a) teasing or abusing of playing Practical joke on, or causing hurt to any student. or (b) asking any student to do any act, or perform any thing, which he/she would not, in the ordinary course, be willing to do or perform."

The Supreme Court of India defines ragging in a 2001 judgement as:

‘Any disorderly conduct whether by words spoken or written or by an act which the effect of teasing, treating or handling with rudeness any other student, Indulging in rowdy or indisciplined activities which causes or Is likely to cause annoyance, hardship or psychological harm or to raise fear or apprehension thereof in a fresher or a junior student or asking the students to do any act or perform something which such student will not do in the ordinary course and which has the effect of causing or generating a sense of shame or embarrassment so as to adversely affect the physique or psyche of a fresher or a junior student.’
Ragging can be thought of in terms verbal, physical and sexual aggression. A single act may be a combination of more than one of these.
A report from 2007 by the Indian anti-ragging group Coalition to Uproot Ragging from Education analyzed 64 ragging complaints, and found that over 60% of these were related to physical ragging, and 20% were sexual in nature.
While India's only registered Anti Ragging NGO, Society Against Violence in Education (SAVE) has noted 7 reported ragging deaths in the year 2007 alone and 31 reported deaths in the period 2000-2007Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ragging

Symposium and Workshop on “Update on Prevention and Treatment of Bovine Mastitis”

Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and A. H., R. S. Pura in collaboration with J&K State Council for Science & Technology, DST, J&K Government organized Symposium and Workshop on “Update on Prevention and Treatment of Bovine Mastitis” at the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and A. H., R. S. Pura 26th March, 2009. Hon`ble Vice-Chancellor SKUAST-J, Prof. B. Mishra was the chief guest on the inaugural function. Dr D. Swarup, Principal Scientist & Head, Division of Veterinary Medicine, I.V.R.I., Bareilly and Dr. Y. V. Gupta Director Animal Husbandry, Jammu were the guests of honour. The programme started with the lighting of traditional lamp. Speaking on the occasion Prof. B. Mishra informed that the perpetual growth in human population and sustained growth in per capita income are deriving for rapid growth in demand for animal feed and better breeding stock of livestock and allied species for increased production of livestock. However, to meet the future demand of these products not only for domestic purpose but also to create surplus for export, there is need to increase the production of livestock products scientifically. Mastitis, the inflammation of mammary gland continues to be the major problem confronting the dairy industry. The disease causes heavy economic losses through decreased milk production, poor quality of milk, discarded milk losses, reduced productive life, reduced market value and cost of veterinary service and drugs. The disease besides causing great economical losses to the farmer greatly confronts the dairy industry. He emphasized that prevention and control of mastitis is warranted in post WTO scenario, to export good quality dairy products. India is marching ahead with quality improvement programme in agricultural sector and dairy industry is attracting maximum attention on quality front. The disease besides causing great economical losses to the farmer greatly confronts the dairy industry. He emphasized that prevention and control of mastitis is warranted in post WTO scenario, to export good quality dairy products. India is marching ahead with quality improvement programme in agricultural sector and dairy industry is attracting maximum attention on quality front.

Prof. Mishra informed that currently antibiotics are the only proven method of mastitis therapy. However, most of the antibiotics are inefficacious and contaminate the milk. Alternative approaches to the treatment are gaining importance globally to reduce the human health hazard. The newer moieties are cytokines, bacterial enzymes, bioresponse modifiers, vitamins and trace elements, medicinal herbs and homeopathic medicines. In his inaugural address, Dr. A. R. Nazki, Dean, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences informed that key issues in India’s milk production are low productivity of milch animals and lack of quality control and monitoring mechanisms across the supply chain. There is huge potential for processing and value addition, particularly in Indian milk products, which are largely sold in unbranded form in the market. The solution lies in promoting investment in quality control and developing scalable efficient technologies for the unorganized sector.
More than hundred veterinary doctors/officers of Animal Husbandry Department, faculty members and postgraduate students participated in the programme.
Among others the function was also attended by Dr. R. K. Sharma, Registrar, Dr. Karnail Singh, Director Extension Education, Dr. N. A. Sudhan, Director Research, Dr. R. M. Bhagat, Director-Resident-Instruction, Dr. Abdul Rashid, Retd. Director-Resident-Instruction and others.

Recommendations:
Mastitis is complex in nature with multifaceted aetiopathogenesis. This situation emphasizes the need and importance of periodical study of their in vitro sensitivity against different antibiotics to detect their resistance patterns and to modify the treatment accordingly.
Urgent need to create awareness among the dairy farmers regarding the economic losses caused by the disease.
Regular screening of dairy farms for the prevalence of sub-clinical mastitis using somatic cell count of milk samples on herd basis and other indirect diagnostic tests like SLST, CMT, BTB should be undertaken on priority basis.
Need to follow strict hygienic measures at the dairy farms with pre- and post milking teat dips.
Judicious use of antibiotics based on pharmacokinetics of drugs was recommended so as to avoid the drug resistance.
Need to develop alternative approaches to antibiotic treatment was felt so as to reduce the human health hazard due to residual effects.

Freshman Social for the first year BVSc & AH students held on 6th March 2009

The first year BVSc & AH students were greeted on the occasion of freshman social held on 6th March 2009. Chief guest Dr. A. R. Nazki, Dean of the faculty addressed the newcomers and inaugurated a talent search competition for the freshers organized and hosted by the senior students particularly the sophomores (2nd years). Faculty members and students alike enjoyed through the lighter moments of the occasion. Best male and female fresher participants as adjudged by a panel of teachers were also awarded by the chief guest.