Vaccination drive against the foot and mouth disease (FMD) for cattle in Vellore and Ranipet districts was launched on Wednesday.

Officials of the Department of Animal Husbandry, which executes the drive, said that the vaccine is administered to the cattle twice a year free of cost. Cattle, including milch cows, buffalo, bulls, goats, sheep and pigs will be vaccinated.

“Generally, the vaccination against the disease is done in September and February every year, depending on its availability. The vaccination will be done till July 31. Around 1.67 lakh cattle will benefit in Vellore district,” Dr. G. Anbuvan, Assistant Director (AD), Department of Animal Husbandry (Vellore), told The Hindu.

Executed under the Centrally sponsored National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP), the vaccine helps to increase the immunity of the animals and thereby prevents loss of income for dairy farmers. The drive was launched by Collectors P.S. Leela Alex and N. Priya, in Vellore and Ranipet districts, respectively. In Ranipet, around 1.90 cattle will be vaccinated till July 31.

Among the districts, Tiruvannamalai has the highest number of 7.86 lakh cattle that will be covered under the programme this season, followed by Vellore (1.67 lakh cattle), Ranipet (1.90 lakh cattle) and Tirupattur (1.20 lakh cattle).

Veterinarians said that high fever, boils in the mouth and foot, loss of weight, and swelling in the mouth are some of the symptoms of the airborne disease. The infection spreads during cold weather and monsoon especially between November and December every year in these districts.