Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a highly contagious viral infection that mostly affects cattle. According to the Center, it has resulted in around 57,000 animal deaths across the country. More than 15.21 lakh cattle have been affected as a result of the virus. At least seven states have reported cases, including Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Delhi.
It has been recommended that the states take quick steps to segregate animals and stop the spread of the illness. The illness is growing quickly in Rajasthan and Gujarat, where state governments have established control centers in districts to monitor and engage in effective preventative efforts. In these two states alone, 3,000 cattle died from the viral illness in August.
The Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) declared in an official statement that the Chief Minister (CM) has directed authorities to launch a disease awareness campaign and remain on-site in their allocated areas of responsibility to give urgent relief to citizens.
What is causing this?
The cause of lumpy skin disease is a capripox virus that infects cattle and buffalo (LSD). Ticks and other insects that feed on blood, such as flies, mosquitoes, and ticks, spread it. It can cause fever, skin nodules, and even death in animals that have never been exposed to the virus previously.
What increases the risk?
There is no recognised treatment for Lumpy Skin Disease. Once the virus has spread throughout a territory, it is difficult to keep cattle from being bitten by infected vectors (flies, etc.). Risky behaviors increase the risk of an infection spreading from one location to another. Furthermore, a lack of vaccines may dramatically increase the risk.
How can the spread be prevented?
To control and prevent lumpy skin disease, four tactics are used: mobility restriction (quarantine), vaccination, slaughter campaigns, and management measures. At least 97 lakh doses of the immunization against lumpy skin condition have already been provided. Almost 80,000 infected animals have recovered. In 1962, a toll-free helpline was established to assist dairy producers and cattle herders in fighting viral infections.
Can sicknesses do harm to people?
Because the virus does not transfer from animals to humans, the illness is not zoonotic, which implies that humans cannot become infected. As a result, aside from its influence on cattle-derived goods, this rise in the incidence may not be cause for alarm.
Is it safe to consume dairy products?
You won’t get sick if you consume milk from sick animals. The quality of the milk does not vary whether it is heated or not. If animals are vaccinated on time, the sickness and its repercussions for milk production can be avoided. If cattle contract the sickness for the first time without being vaccinated, milk supply may be reduced by 40-50%.
