Perfidious-Linkages of the Director Indian Veterinary Research Institute with FMD-CP Failure

My Letter to the Director IVRI

To,

The Director ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute (Dr. R K Singh), Izatnagar, Bareilly

Sub: Regarding FMD Vaccine related discussion in IRC today (13-08-2019) in the forenoon during the presentation of Dr. AK Sharma’s Project “Sequence-based typing of BoLA–Class II genes and performance of cattle infected with FMDV under natural conditions”, approved by the chair.

Sir,

During FMD Vaccine related discussion in IRC today (13-08-2019) in the forenoon with reference to the presentation of Dr. AK Sharma’s Project “Sequence-based typing of BoLA–Class II genes and performance of cattle infected with FMDV under natural conditions”, approved by the chair. Some important points came up and disturbed my thoughts regarding the utility of FMD-CP.

1.       In the discussion, Dr. Sharma disclosed that in IVRI herd at Mukteshwar protective titres were absent after six months of vaccination against FMD using IVRI-produced vaccine. However, it is often claimed by vaccine producers that vaccine ensures protection for 10-11 months.

2.       In 2013, despite vaccination twice in a year at IVRI Mukteshwar animals and three times in a year, vaccinated animals on another private Farm where protective titres were more than 2.4 (required is 1.8 only) FMD outbreak occurred affecting 30-50% of animals, i.e., the vaccine was proved ineffective. The pertinent question is, either the so-called protective titres are really protective or it is also as false as the benefit of so-called FMD-vaccination. The study referred by Dr. Sharma also revealed that the virus isolated in the outbreak was no different than the virus used for vaccine production. Does this indicate that the vaccine was bogus (produced by IVRI itself) or any other explanation is with you?

3.       If vaccination three times in a year despite with good protective titres and herd immunity failed to protect the animals against FMD virus infection, that too by a similar type of virus as used in vaccine preparation then:

a.        by what knowledge of virology you can recommend the utility of FMD vaccination as you are doing for the last several years.

b.      how you can say that monitoring of protective titres to ensure seroconversion on vaccination is an effective measure to evaluate vaccine efficacy in the field?

c.       how can you say that the ongoing FMD-CP is effective or is of any use in light of the above facts?

4.       The proposal by Dr. Sharma, though questioned by several scientists, approved today focus on the detection of BoLA–Class II genes to establish its relationship to the susceptibility of animals to FMDV under natural conditions. However, he wants to study in a small number of animals that suffered from FMD in 2013 at Mukteshwar in a vaccinated herd where the outbreak precipitated just after vaccination. I failed to understand how this study population justifies a natural condition when the study population was vaccinated and the outbreak occurred just after vaccination. It might be a vaccine-induced outbreak or outbreak due to the vaccine used and was in a protected group of animals instead of animals under natural environment. The suggestion that the study should be conducted at Port Blair where there was no vaccination of FMD since last several years but the outbreak has occurred just a few months back, why it is not acceptable.

5.       On my suggestion for taking the study population at IVRI, Izatnagar, which is larger, and FMD the outbreak occurred in 2015 only, I got a very interesting and amazing reply that details of the investigation of the IVRI, Izatnagar outbreaks are not available. Sir, my questions are:

a.       Why IVRI, Izatnagar FMD outbreak was not investigated properly in detail? Do we lack the expertise to investigate or we destroyed the details of the investigation intentionally? If we lack the expertise then why we claim to be Premiere Veterinary Institute, why we hold CDDL (Central Disease Diagnosis Laboratory)? Why do we claim to home the best virologists of India?

b.      Does IVRI, Izatnagar FMD outbreak was not investigated to protect suppliers of the vaccine? If so, for what? If not, then why the case was not filed against vaccine supplier as the outbreak precipitated just after a week of the vaccination? Do you have some malefic linkages with the vaccine producer/ supplier?

Sir, the above questions are boggling me since after the discussion today in the forenoon and request you to kindly respond in this regard. Failing to receive any suitable response from your end may strengthen my belief that you, directly or indirectly, are involved in the whole scam of substandard FMD-CP vaccines, often responsible for several of the FMD outbreaks.

Sincerely yours

BR Singh

(Bhoj R Singh)

Head, Division of  Epidemiology

Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar-243122, Bareilly, UP, India. 

Doubling the Farmers' Income in India: Approach of Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries

Doubling the Farmers' Income in India: Approach of Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries

The Lesson: How to Bluff the Country?

The new Government in India formed a new Ministry (Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries) on May 2019 to boost the move for Doubling the Farmers' income by 2022. For control of the two most devastating livestock diseases, Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Brucellosis (each causing an annual loss in livestock to the tune of the US $ 3 billion, i.e, ~Rs. 20500/= crores per year,  https://www.researchgate.net/publication/332263494_Proposal_for_Vaccine_and_Vaccination_Policy_for_Control_of_Animal_Diseases_in_India), the ministry got an allocation of a budget of about US $ 2 billion (Rs. 13343/= crores, https://www.narendramodi.in/special-scheme-for-control-of-foot-and-mouth-disease-fmd-and-brucellosis-to-support-the-livestock-rearing-farmers-545152). Earlier the budget was about one-tenth of the new budget allocated for control of FMD and Brucellosis. The determination of the New Government to control diseases in livestock and benefit the farmers and livestock owners is evident with the formation of separate ministry as well as the allocation of a big budget for the purpose.

However, bureaucracy in the New Ministry and Department (DAHDF) is determined to fail the efforts of the new Government. This is evident by the facts revealed through an RTI (DOAHD/R/2019/50172, dated 25-07-2019) to understand the use of the funds allocated earlier. The details are as under:

The RTI requested:
1.            Kindly provide the year wise total budget allocated and utilized in the different state Government and Central Government agencies under different schemes running in your department for Foot and Mouth Disease that is FMD and Brucellosis. Year-wise information, for the last 10 years or since the programs for FMD and Brucellosis Control was started by your department, may kindly be provided at the earliest.

2.            Year-wise purchase details of Vaccines for FMD and Brucellosis control with respect to the number of dosages, suppliers or producers of those supplies through using funds allocated under point 1 in the last 10 years.

3.            Besides the vaccine, other supplies purchased year-wise out of the funds allocated under point 1 in the last 10 years.

4.            Copy of the tenders floated and finalized for purchasing vaccines and other supplies for utilization of the funds allocated at point 1 in the last 10 years.

And the reply is astonishing

"Nil information available".

Similar is the status with control of Classical swine fever, although the Swine fever Control program is in operation since 2014. Please see the RTI and its response below.
Information requested (RTI No. DOAHD/R/2017/50208/1) was
1. The number of Vaccine batches and doses the vaccines used under, Classical Swine fever Control Program 1st January 2007.
2. The number of Vaccine batches used under Classical Swine fever Control Program 1st January 2007 till date have been tested for their quality along with testing reports. Also provide the Date of release of each batch of the vaccine mentioned for field use, date of collection of the samples and date of receipt of the testing report, and date of release of the payment of each batch of the vaccine used should also be provided.

3. The name and address of the producers of the Vaccine batches used under Classical Swine fever Control Program 1st January 2007 till date.

Reply:- Information is not available with CPIO.




Now the big question is:

1. The department which has no account of Rs. 2500/ crores how can we expect that it will be able to manage the budget of Rs. 13343/ crores?

2. How the ministers will be able to handle such a bureaucracy, crafty and loaded with bluffing tactics? 

3. Do the funds will be able to benefit the livestock farmers or will be lost among politicians and bureaucracy?

My letter to CAG of India in this regard is as under:
Respected CAG of India,
                                 It is to bring to your kind notice and request an inquiry against the responsible officials in Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries (DOAHDF, Ministry of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries), who had not maintained the record of money spent on disease control program amounting more than 5000 Crore rupees in last ten years. 

The flaw came to my knowledge  through a reply to RTI DOAHD/R/2019/50172 for
1.            Kindly provide the year wise total budget allocated and utilized in the different state Government and Central Government agencies under different schemes running in your department for Foot and Mouth Disease that is FMD and Brucellosis. Year-wise information, for the last 10 years or since the programs for FMD and Brucellosis Control was started by your department, may kindly be provided at the earliest.
2.            Year-wise purchase details of Vaccines for FMD and Brucellosis control with respect to the number of dosages, suppliers or producers of those supplies through using funds allocated under point 1 in the last 10 years.
3.            Besides the vaccine, other supplies purchased year-wise out of the funds allocated under point 1 in the last 10 years.
4.            Copy of the tenders floated and finalized for purchasing vaccines and other supplies for utilization of the funds allocated at point 1 in the last 10 years.

And RTI  DOAHD/R/2017/50208/1  for
1. The number of Vaccine batches and doses the vaccines used under, Classical Swine fever Control Program 1st January 2007.
2. The number of Vaccine batches used under Classical Swine fever Control Program 1st January 2007 till date have been tested for their quality along with testing reports. Also provide the Date of release of each batch of the vaccine mentioned for field use, date of collection of the samples and date of receipt of the testing report, and date of release of the payment of each batch of the vaccine used should also be provided.
3. The name and address of the producers of the Vaccine batches used under Classical Swine fever Control Program 1st January 2007 till date.
In both cases, the reply was either "Nil information available" or "Information is not available with CPIO".

 Sir, The Government in India formed a new Ministry (Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries) on May 2019 to boost the move for Doubling the Farmers' income by 2022. For control of the two most devastating livestock diseases, Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Brucellosis (each causing an annual loss in livestock to the tune of the US $ 3 billion, i.e, ~Rs. 20500/= crores per year,  https://www.researchgate.net/publication/332263494_Proposal_for_Vaccine_and_Vaccination_Policy_for_Control_of_Animal_Diseases_in_India), the ministry got an allocation of a budget of about US $ 2 billion (Rs. 13343/= crores, https://www.narendramodi.in/special-scheme-for-control-of-foot-and-mouth-disease-fmd-and-brucellosis-to-support-the-livestock-rearing-farmers-545152). Earlier the budget was about one-tenth of the new budget allocated for control of FMD and Brucellosis. The determination of the New Government to control diseases in livestock and benefit the farmers and livestock owners is evident with the formation of separate ministry as well as the allocation of a big budget for the purpose.

However, bureaucracy in the New Ministry and Department (DAHDF) is determined to fail the efforts of the new Government. 

Sir, please, do the needful at your end for saving the Farmers of India and wealth of the Nation from the Corrupts.
Sincerely yours

BR Singh

(Bhoj R Singh)

Head, Division of  Epidemiology

Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar-243122, Bareilly, UP, India. 

Jai Bharat