Pune is currently grappling with a severe outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) that has impacted both wild and domestic animals, raising alarm among veterinary authorities and the general public. The deadly viral disease has claimed the lives of 16 spotted deer at Pune’s Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park in Katraj and has infected over 530 livestock animals across Pune and neighboring districts. This alarming situation underscores urgent gaps in vaccination coverage and biosecurity, especially amid monsoon conditions conducive to disease spread.

This detailed report covers the origins, impact, ongoing containment efforts, and broader implications of the FMD outbreak across Pune’s animal populations, while highlighting how authorities are racing against time to avert further losses.

1. Deadly Impact at Pune’s Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park: 16 Deer Lost in One Week

The outbreak first prominently surfaced at the Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park, where 16 spotted deer died between July 6 and July 12, 2025, accounting for more than 16% of the zoo’s deer population. Laboratory tests conducted by the ICAR-National Institute on Foot and Mouth Disease (Bhubaneswar) confirmed FMD as the cause of death.

The zoo’s veterinary team and external experts reported that 14 of the deceased deer were females and 2 males. The infection severely compromised their immune systems, making them highly vulnerable to stress and secondary infections. Fortunately, since mid-July, no further deer deaths have been reported, indicating that intensified preventive measures have helped contain the outbreak within the zoo premises.

Veterinary officer Dr. Ghanshyam Pawar noted that FMD is highly contagious and typically spreads through airborne particles, contaminated feed, water, or human movement between infected and healthy animals. The zoo administration swiftly ramped up biosecurity protocols, hygiene practices, and vaccination drives as soon as the outbreak was suspected, helping curb further transmission among captive animals. Director Rajkumar Jadhav emphasized that the remaining deer are now showing signs of recovery and remain under close observation.

2. The Scale of the Outbreak in Pune and Surrounding Districts: 530+ Infected, 80 Dead

Beyond the zoo, the FMD outbreak has hit Maharashtra’s Pune and Ahmednagar districts particularly hard, becoming the epicenter for this viral epidemic in the state. So far, over 530 animals—including cattle, buffaloes, goats, and sheep—have been infected, with at least 80 deaths largely attributed to delayed vaccinations.

According to the state animal husbandry department, the outbreak’s severity this year is exacerbated by the postponement of the second round of scheduled vaccinations. Typically, the central government supplies FMD vaccines twice annually: the first round occurs in September/October and the second six months later. However, this year’s delay led to compromised immunity in livestock, leaving animals vulnerable not only to FMD but also to secondary infections like haemorrhagic septicaemia.

Hotspot talukas in Pune district such as Indapur and Pune’s neighboring Ahmednagar talukas Parner and Nevasa have seen significant numbers of cases and deaths. Veterinary officials have launched a mission mode vaccination drive, covering a 5-kilometer radius around infected animals, aiming to vaccinate approximately 16,896 animals in the area as promptly as possible.

3. How Foot and Mouth Disease Spreads and Its Impact on Animals

Foot and Mouth Disease is a highly contagious viral infection that affects cloven-hoofed animals including cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, deer, and pigs. It transmits rapidly through direct contact, aerosolized droplets, contaminated feed and water, and even via humans moving between infected and healthy animals. The monsoon season’s humid and moist conditions accelerate the spread, creating a challenging environment for containment.

Affected animals develop symptoms such as fever, blisters on the tongue, mouth, and hooves, excessive salivation, lameness, and loss of appetite. Severe cases can lead to death due to secondary infections or systemic shock.

Though FMD does not infect humans, it is a major concern for livestock economies as it causes drastic production losses, including reduced milk yield, weight loss, and decreased fertility in affected animals. For zoos and wildlife sanctuaries like Pune’s Katraj Zoo, the disease poses grave risks to conservation efforts and biodiversity.

4. Ongoing Containment and Vaccination Campaigns

In response to the crisis, Maharashtra’s animal husbandry department is aggressively conducting vaccination drives across Pune and Ahmednagar districts. They are ensuring all susceptible animals within designated perimeters receive the FMD vaccine. The vaccination efforts are coordinated under guidance from national-level livestock disease control authorities, including the central government.

The Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park has implemented strict health advisory measures, enhanced enclosure hygiene, and is performing frequent health checkups on remaining animals. Vet specialists and conservationists emphasize biosecurity and minimizing human traffic to sensitive areas.

Authorities urge livestock owners to keep animals isolated if symptoms appear and to report suspected infections immediately to veterinary services. Public awareness campaigns are underway to educate farmers about the importance of timely vaccinations and basic hygiene to break the disease transmission chain.

5. Why the Current Outbreak Is More Severe Than Previous Years

Officials acknowledge that the current FMD outbreak in Pune and surrounding areas is more severe than previous years—markedly so compared to last year when Maharashtra reported only seven outbreaks with 105 infections and three deaths statewide.

Experts attribute this increase primarily to the delay in the second round of vaccination this year, which allowed immunity levels in animals to lapse. Combined with the monsoon’s conducive environment for viral spread and increased animal movements during agricultural cycles, the disease gained a foothold more rapidly.

This situation has triggered calls for stricter enforcement of vaccination schedules, improved logistics for vaccine delivery, and better coordination between state and central departments. Continuous surveillance and rapid response mechanisms are being prioritized to prevent future escalations.

6. The Economic and Ecological Stakes for Pune and Maharashtra

The impact of the FMD outbreak extends beyond animal health to significant economic and ecological consequences. Pune is a major livestock-keeping region, with many rural livelihoods dependent on cattle and other hooved animals for milk, meat, and draft power. The loss of animals and production drops strain the agrarian economy and add to rural distress.

In the case of the deer deaths at Katraj Zoo, the loss disrupts conservation programs, visitor experiences, and ecological balance within the zoo’s controlled environment. Wildlife researchers warn that while FMD primarily affects livestock, the spillover into wild animal populations, especially in captive settings, necessitates vigilant monitoring and preventive action.

Authorities stress that controlling FMD is key to safeguarding Maharashtra’s animal economy and preserving biodiversity.

7. Public Safety and Animal Owners: What You Need to Know

While FMD does not infect humans, animal owners and the public are advised to observe preventive measures:

• Ensure timely vaccination of livestock according to government schedules.

• Avoid movement of animals between farms unless absolutely necessary.

• Maintain cleanliness in animal housing and feed/water sources.

• Isolate animals showing symptoms immediately.

• Report suspected cases promptly to veterinary authorities.

• Follow biosecurity protocols when visiting zoos or animal sanctuaries.

Responsible practices by citizens help contain the virus and protect animal welfare.

8. Looking Ahead: Strengthening Maharashtra’s Fight Against Foot and Mouth Disease

The current outbreak serves as a critical learning moment for Maharashtra’s animal health infrastructure. Experts recommend several long-term measures:

• Ensure uninterrupted biannual vaccination drives with adequate vaccine stock and timely procurement.

• Improve disease surveillance using modern diagnostics and field reporting.

• Enhance farmer awareness and capacity-building on disease prevention and livestock care.

• Strengthen collaboration between state veterinary services, zoological parks, and federal disease control programs.

• Build rapid response teams for emerging outbreaks.

• Invest in research on vaccine efficacy against newer virus strains like those seen in Pune’s HFMD cases in humans.

Through persistent vigilance, scientific rigor, and community participation, Pune and Maharashtra can work to minimize the devastating impacts of future FMD outbreaks.

Conclusion: 8 Urgent Takeaways from Pune’s Foot and Mouth Disease Crisis

The Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak in Pune signals a difficult but critical battle for animal health authorities, farmers, and wildlife conservationists alike. With coordinated efforts and public cooperation, the region hopes to control this outbreak swiftly and protect its valuable animal populations from further loss.

The Foot and Mouth Disease crisis in Pune has also highlighted the crucial role of veterinary research and innovation in managing viral outbreaks. Scientists and animal health experts are now closely studying the strains responsible for current infections to develop more effective vaccines tailored to evolving virus types. Advanced diagnostic tools, including rapid on-site testing kits, are being deployed to enable quicker identification and isolation of infected animals. These developments signify an encouraging shift towards proactive disease control that could limit future outbreaks and bolster overall livestock health resilience in Maharashtra and beyond.

In addition to technical and medical responses, the outbreak has sparked greater community engagement and cooperation between governmental agencies, farmers, and wildlife authorities. Public-private partnerships are emerging, focusing on improving livestock care infrastructure, promoting biosecurity best practices, and training animal owners in early disease detection and reporting. This cooperation is essential to create a sustainable defense against FMD and other contagious diseases, helping protect not only animal populations but also the socio-economic stability of rural Maharashtra where livelihoods depend heavily on healthy livestock.

Follow: Health Dept. Pune

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