Rajesh Sharma
Una, August 6
Lumpy skin disease (LSD) has infected 47 head of cattle in 27 villages of Una district in the past two days. The viral infection is threatening to spread in the coming days owing to humid weather.
Deputy Director, District Animal Husbandry, Dr JS Sen said that the first LSD case was detected on August 4. “Blood samples of infected animals have been sent to the ICAR-National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases, Bhopal, for analysis and confirmation of the disease,” he added.
Dr Sen said that the animals were being treated for secondary infections and symptoms such as fever. He added that the department was ready for any emerging situation. Disinfectants were being sprayed around cattle sheds, he added.
Dr Rakesh Bhatti, District Nodal officer for LSD, said that there had been no animal mortality in the district due to the infection. He added that as per the World Organisation for Animal Health, the mortality rate of the LSD was only 1.5 per cent. The disease does not spread to humans and remains confined to cows and buffaloes.
The nodal officer said, “The virus spreads from one animal to another by fleas and flies that feed on blood of the cattle. The bite causes hypersensitivity in skin, leading to the formation of lumps. Minute insects even stick to human clothing and travel to newer locations, making it difficult to contain the disease.”
Bhatti said, “Block-level teams have been constituted and infected animals are being separated from the healthy ones, while the villagers are being sensitised about the disease. Our LSD bulletin is being updated every 90 minutes and we are closely monitoring the situation.”
He said that cross-breed varieties of cows were more susceptible to the LSD virus. He urged farmers to immediately contact the nearest government animal health institution if their cattle showed symptoms such as fever, lumps on the skin, reduction in milk production or difficulty in swallowing.
A visit to a cattle shelter house in Kotla Kalan village near the town revealed that two stray cattle there were infected with the LSD and the management committee of the shelter had requested the department for assistance.
Doesn’t spread to humans
- Cattle develop symptoms like fever, lumps on the skin, reduction in milk production or difficulty in swallowing
- The virus spreads from one animal to another through fleas and flies that feed on blood of the cattle
- The disease does not spread to humans
