Lumpy skin disease in cattle spreads to over 8 states and UTs; 7,300 animals dead so far

Lumpy skin disease is a contagious viral disease that affects cattle and causes fever, nodules on the skin and can also lead to death

Over 7,300 cattle have died so far due to ‘lumpy skin disease’ in eight states including one union territory, and vaccination drive has been stepped up to contain the infection, a senior government official said.

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a contagious viral disease that affects cattle. It is transmitted by blood-feeding insects, such as certain species of flies and mosquitoes, or ticks. It causes fever, nodules on the skin and can also lead to death.

LSD has recently spread in Asia following outbreaks in the Middle East and Europe. The disease emerged in Bangladesh in July 2019.

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According to the official, India too saw the first case of LSD in the same year, 2019, in eastern states especially West Bengal and Odisha. But this year, the disease has been reported in western and northern states as well as in Andaman Nicobar.

“First, LSD was reported in Gujarat and it has spread to eight states/union territories now. Over 1.85 cattle have been affected so far and more than 7,300 cattle have died since the outbreak of the disease in July,” the official told PTI.

About 74,325 cattle have been affected in Punjab so far, while 58,546 in Gujarat, 43,962 in Rajasthan, 6,385 in Jammu and Kashmir, 1,300 in Uttarakhand, 532 in Himachal Pradesh, 260 in Andaman & Nicobar, he said and added the data from Madhya Pradesh is awaited.