<i>Livestock Research Instt develops goat pox vaccine</i>

Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI) has developed a vaccine for goat pox, a contagious viral disease, which kills a large number of goats every year in the country.
Senior scientific officers of BLRI Dr Md Rafiqul Islam, Dr MJFA Taimur and other scientists of livestock health division developed the homologous vaccine, which can help save millions of goats, said an official handout.
They also innovated a method to diagnose the disease.
An expert committee at a meeting on November 15 approved the vaccine for its use at the field level.
The vaccine was formally handed over to the livestock directorate yesterday at a function in Savar for its large-scale production.
The vaccine will protect millions of goats from the disease every year, thereby helping save the country Tk 52 crore in goat losses and Tk 22 crore in import cost.
Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Dr CS Karim was present as the chief guest at the vaccine technology transfer ceremony at the BLRI conference room.
Livestock Secretary Syed Ataur Rahman, BLRI Director General Dr Jahangir Alam and Director General of the Directorate of Fisheries and Livestock Sunil Chandra Ghosh were also present.