Bans Ketoprofen drug ! After a ban on multi-vial drugs of Diclofenac by the Centre, now the State government has withdrawn Ketoprofen, a non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used extensively for veterinary purposes to save the vulture population in the three western districts.

Highlights

• The Directorate of Animal Husbandry has decided to discontinue the use of Ketoprofen in Erode, Coimbatore and The Nilgiris, where the vulture population was in danger.
• Totally, 25,730 vials of Ketoprofen were supplied to all the districts, of which 2,190 vials were supplied to the three western districts. The State government had included Ketoprofen based on an effort to identify an alternative to the banned drug Diclofenac.
• The Centre had banned Diclofenac multi-vial doses after wildlife biologists proved that presence of the drug in the carcasses of the cattle caused the vulture population to dwindle drastically.
• Vultures act as scavengers, preying on dead animals and Diclofenac in carcasses led to slow death of vultures.
• Meloxicam, an alternative drug, is currently included in the drug list and will be inducted in higher quantity to replace Ketoprofen completely in the State.
• The Animal Husbandry Directorate has instructed the Regional Joint Directors to advise the field veterinarians to strictly adhere to the exact dosage regimen of Ketoprofen 3 mg while treating the animals and also advise the cattle owners to follow the withdrawal period of seven days.