2.7K cattle infected with lumpy skin disease in Jalandhar district so far

Tribune News Service

Aparna Banerji

Jalandhar, August 7

As many as 2,700 cattle have been infected in Jalandhar district with the lumpy skin disease (LSD) and at least 15 of them have died since the onset of the disease in the state. However, authorities said some of the deaths were caused due to other reasons as well. While the disease initially started with the Malwa region, now Doaba has also been affected.

Prevention & cure

• Use mosquito repellants and nets
• Sanitise sheds and keep environment clean
• If any cattle is infected, visit veterinary centre
• Separate infected ones and workers who tend to them
• Start treatment immediately after consultation with vet
• Start antibiotics and antiseptics; feed easily digestible fodder

Mosquitoes, flies, ticks key vectors

Mosquitoes, flies and ticks are its key vectors. Farmers have been asked not to indulge in sale or purchase of cattle nor introduce new cattle into their dairies. The disease primarily infects cows. The fatality rate is only 1 per cent. With proper care, the infected animals can recover promptly. — Dr Ram Pal Mittal, Joint Director, Animal husbandry

Giving details, Dr Ram Pal Mittal, Joint Director, Animal Husbandry, said: “Statewide, the disease has infected 31,760 cattle. In Jalandhar, 2,700 cattle have been infected by it. Mosquitoes, flies and ticks are its key vectors. Advisories have been issued and awareness is being spread on this. Farmers have been asked not to indulge in sale or purchase of cattle nor introduce new cattle into their dairies. The disease primarily infects cows. For an infected animal, a course of antibiotics, antispetics and the use of fly and mosquito repellants are being recommended to aide recovery. So far the fatality rate is only one percent. With proper care the animals can recover promptly. A statewide budget has also been released to deal with the viral disease.”

Meanwhile, 100 cattle in Adampur alone have been infected with the disease. Even though the outbreak is relatively new in the district, the disease has been spreading rapidly after the first case was reported about 15 to 20 days ago.

Doctors said the severity varied from farm to farm and also depended on the immediate measures taken. Adampur farmers said many cases have been reported At Chuhwali and Dhogri villages with Dhingriyan village majorly imapcted.

Dairy farmer Sukhjit Singh Atwal from Chuharwali who has a pregnant cow and a heifer affected with the disease has separated these two cattle from the rest of his cattle shed. Of the total 12 to 13 cattle he owns, only two were impacted due to prompt measures.

Pritpal Singh, Atwal’s son has been taking various measures to keep the disease at bay. He advised application of disinfectant mixed with water on cattle’s bodies, use of mosquito repellants and cleanliness in the sheds.

Dr. Parveen Kuamr, Veterinary Oficer at Civil Veterinary Hospital, Adampur, said: “I have about 25 villages under me and there are at least four to five cases in each village. There are a 100 LSD affected cattle in this area. But the silver lining is that if affected cows/ cattle are separated within hours of detection of disease and treatment is started, then it promptly heals. There have been no fatalities in the area so far. And cattle are promptly healing.”

Experts said there was no need to fear as the disease is spread from animals to animals. The cases that surfaced so far have been mostly in cows. Few buffaloes have been infected. Also, the fatality rate among LSD infected cattle is 1 per cent. However, the experts added, milk production in cows got reduced with the onset of the infection. "It is safe to consume the milk of the cattle infected with LSD but it should be boiled before consumption", they clarified, stressing LSD doesn't spread to humans.

Since the abandonment of cattle has risen after the spread of LSD, some Smaritans have been taking care of stray ones. Pritpal from Chuhrwali has been treating pregnant cows and Heifers by providing them medication and sanitising them.

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