Punjab FMD Vaccination 2026: Free Vaccine, Ring Vaccination and Disease Reporting Guide

Livestock farmers in Punjab have been given a firm warning and a firm promise in the same week: hide an outbreak and face strict action, but report it and get free vaccine fast. According to the latest official announcement, the Punjab FMD Vaccination drive is being backed by a zero-tolerance policy on concealing foot-and-mouth disease, with ample vaccine ordered for every district and tehsil. The policy was announced by Livestock Secretary Ahmed Aziz Tarar at an emergency meeting on 17 October 2026, after officials reviewed the spread of the disease across the province.

Zero-Tolerance Policy Announced

The emergency meeting was chaired by the Livestock Secretary and attended by senior officials from across the province. Its message was aimed as much at department staff as at farmers.

• Strict action warned: The department will take the strictest possible action against staff who conceal outbreaks or fail to report them promptly.
• Meeting purpose: The meeting reviewed the spread of foot-and-mouth disease across Punjab and the availability of vaccines.
• Senior attendance: Additional secretaries, directors general and divisional directors from across the province attended the online meeting.
• SOP compliance: Officials were directed to follow standard operating procedures strictly, with no exceptions for delayed reporting.

What Foot-and-Mouth Disease Does

Foot-and-mouth disease, known locally as Moon Khur, is one of the most damaging animal diseases for farmers. It spreads quickly and hits milk and meat production hard.

• Animals affected: The disease affects cattle and small ruminants, including cows, buffaloes, sheep and goats.
• Visible signs: Infected animals develop sores in the mouth and on the feet, stop eating properly and become lame.
• Production loss: Milk drops sharply and animals lose weight, which cuts a farmer’s income for weeks.
• Fast spread: The virus spreads between animals through contact and contaminated feed, water and equipment.

Free Vaccine Supply in Every District

The department’s promise on supply is specific: enough vaccine, in every district and tehsil, within a day of the order. Farmers should not be told that vaccine is unavailable.

• 24-hour order: The Secretary directed that sufficient vaccine reach every district and tehsil within 24 hours.
• Cold chain stock: The Veterinary Research Institute confirmed sufficient vaccine remains available within its cold chain system.
• Distribution duty: The Director General Extension was directed to ensure adequate supply reaches the field.
• Free through card: Animals under the Livestock Card programme also receive free vaccination against foot-and-mouth disease.

Ring Vaccination Explained

Ring vaccination is the department’s main tool for stopping an outbreak from spreading. It works by protecting the healthy animals around a sick herd.

• What it means: Field teams vaccinate animals in a ring around the affected area, creating a protective zone.
• Why it works: The vaccinated ring blocks the virus from reaching healthy herds beyond the outbreak.
• Speed matters: Ring vaccination only works if it starts quickly, which is why fast reporting is part of the policy.
• Field teams: Department field teams have been directed to carry out ring vaccination around every reported outbreak.

How Farmers Must Report Disease

Reporting is now a formal duty with a named tool. A farmer who sees signs of disease should act the same day, not wait to see if the animal recovers.

• Report immediately: Suspected outbreaks must be reported promptly, without waiting for the disease to spread.
• ADRS Info app: Officials must report suspected outbreaks through the ADRS Info application, the department’s reporting tool.
• Contact your officer: Farmers should inform their local veterinary officer or livestock facilitation centre at once.
• Do not hide cases: Concealing an outbreak now carries the strictest action under the zero-tolerance policy.

Protecting Animals After Floods

The floods made disease control harder, because stagnant water and stressed animals raise the risk of several infections at once. The department’s flood response shows the scale of that work.

• Relief camps: A total of 482 veterinary flood relief camps were set up across Punjab for affected animals.
• Staff deployed: More than 3,373 veterinary officers and support staff worked round the clock at these camps.
• Mobile units: A total of 175 branded mobile veterinary dispensaries and 33 mobile labs reached remote and flooded areas.
• Animals vaccinated: Through the campaign, 939,305 animals were vaccinated against haemorrhagic septicaemia, foot-and-mouth disease, Newcastle disease and other infections.

Conclusion

Punjab’s message to livestock farmers is now unmistakable: vaccine is available, reporting is quick, and hiding disease will be punished. The zero-tolerance policy announced on 17 October 2026, backed by sufficient cold-chain stock and a 24-hour supply order to every district and tehsil, removes the old excuse that vaccine could not be found. Farmers should vaccinate their animals, report any sign of foot-and-mouth disease the same day through their veterinary officer, and cooperate with ring vaccination teams when they arrive. Healthy animals protect not just one farm, but the whole village’s livelihood.

FAQs

What is foot-and-mouth disease? It is a fast-spreading viral disease of cattle and small ruminants, known locally as Moon Khur, causing mouth and foot sores and sharp milk losses.

Is FMD vaccination free in Punjab? Yes, the department has ordered ample free vaccine supply for every district and tehsil, and Livestock Card animals receive free vaccination.

How do I report a suspected outbreak? Inform your local veterinary officer at once, and outbreaks are recorded through the ADRS Info application.

What is ring vaccination? It means vaccinating healthy animals in a ring around an outbreak, creating a protective zone that stops the virus spreading further.

What happens if someone hides an outbreak? Under the zero-tolerance policy, the department will take the strictest possible action against staff who conceal outbreaks or delay reporting.