Foot and mouth outbreak: Commission of Inquiry lambasts three key persons

The report of the Commission of Inquiry on Foot and Mouth Disease is very critical of three people. Considering the findings of magistrate Shameema Hamuth-Lauloo, the Minister of Agribusiness announces the establishment of a committee. Doctors Deodass Meenowa and Jean-Marc Samoisy failed in the exercise of their duties. Balraj Lutchmeea is the wrong person in the wrong place. This is the damning finding of the FMD Commission of Inquiry.

The commission published its report. It is presided over by the magistrate Shameema Hamuth-Lauloo, with Aurelie Anquetil André, head of the François Leguat reserve in Rodrigues, and Dr Dewan Sibartie, former Chief Agricultural Officer. "Dr. Deodass Meenowa and Dr. Jean-Marc Samoisy have failed in the performance of their duties," Shameema Hamuth-Laulloo said in the report. For the magistrate, it is necessary to follow a protocol in case of epizootic disease. In Mauritius, the situation became more complicated with the Eid-Ul-Adha Muslim holiday because there was movement of animals and slaughtering at home.

Moreover, Balraj Lutchmeea, the Deputy Director Agricultural Services, is strongly criticized. "He does not have the skills and qualifications to chair a crisis committee," the magistrate said. She insists that "decisions were not taken on time" and that the Deputy Director Agricultural Services "has not taken the appropriate decisions. "341 animals showed signs of the virus, but 1,695 were slaughtered. "It's unfortunate that we did not think about mass vaccination," she says.

The virus originated in India

According to the report, the virus landed in Rodrigues from India. The refrigerated meat imported from the sub-continent does not satisfy all the sanitary conditions and the virus has landed in Rodrigues because this meat is imported there.

Magistrate Shameema Hamuth-Laulloo was very critical of Dr. Jean-Marc Samoisy of Rodrigues. "At first the veterinarian thought it was poisoning but later, with the spread of the epizootic throughout the island, he did not investigate further. This could be malicious, which could constitute a criminal offense,” she said in her report.

When the veterinary surgeon sought the assistance of the veterinary section of Mauritius, she was turned down. The Committee noted that, when Dr. Deodass Meenowa banned the import from Rodrigues on July 30, 2016, there was political pressure. The magistrate was very harsh towards the veterinary chief. He misled the department, at a meeting on July 25, 2016, noting that the virus was not contagious. "He knew that the epizootic was spreading rapidly, but in spite of that he let the animals land in the country. It is a lack of professionalism on his part, "the report said.