Lumpy skin disease spreads to 17 Rajasthan districts, kills over 4,000 cattle
Govt is considering banning cattle movement from other states and has sought reports from district to make a final assessment; it could also impose restrictions or cancel upcoming animal fairs due to infection.
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Jaipur, August 4: Over 4,000 cattle have died of lumpy skin disease (LSD) in Rajasthan, a viral infection that spread to over 16 districts in the state, said officials on Thursday.
According to official estimates, Rajasthan has a total cow population of around 14 million. The viral disease is spread by blood-feeding insects such as certain species of flies, mosquitos or ticks and through contaminated food and water.
According to state government’s data, 5 districts reported the majority of deaths - Ganganagar (840), Barmer (830), Jodhpur (730), Jalore (580) and Bikaner (527). The infection has also been reported from Jaisalmer, Pali, Sirohi, Churu, Hanumangarh, Ajmer, Nagaur, Jaipur, Sikar, Jhunjhunu and Udaipur.
Chief secretary Usha Sharma said that a budget of Rs 8 lakh to Rs 12 lakh has been given at a divisional level to the Ajmer, Bikaner and Jodhpur offices; and Rs 2 lakh to Rs 8 lakh to the rest of the affected districts to buy emergency and essential medicines. She said that 30 additional vehicles were provided to the affected districts for prevention, treatment and effective monitoring of the disease.
Additional director (health), department of animal husbandry, Dr NM Singh said the state is focusing on prevention. Cattle owners have been told to keep infected animal in isolation.
Singh said the infection spread does not pose a risk to humans. “There is no issue in consuming milk after boiling,” he said.
The official said almsot 94,000 cases of viral infection that affects cattle have been reported, which was initially detected in cattle in districts adjoining Gujarat, the epicentre of that disease, but has spread rapidly to northern Rajasthan too. Nearly 70,000 of the infected cattle have been treated, the official said.
Government is considering banning cattle movement from other states and has sought reports from district to make a final assessment. Govt could impose restrictions or cancel upcoming animal fairs due to infection.
According to official estimates, Rajasthan has a total cow population of around 14 million. The viral disease is spread by blood-feeding insects such as certain species of flies, mosquitos or ticks and through contaminated food and water.
The disease causes acute fever, discharge from eyes and nose, salivation, soft blister-like nodules all over the body, marked reduction in milk yield, difficulty in eating, and sometimes, also leads to the animal’s death. The mortality rate for the contagion is 1.5%.
Chief secretary Usha Sharma said that a budget of Rs 8 lakh to Rs 12 lakh has been given at a divisional level to the Ajmer, Bikaner and Jodhpur offices; and Rs 2 lakh to Rs 8 lakh to the rest of the affected districts to buy emergency and essential medicines. She said that 30 additional vehicles were provided to the affected districts for prevention, treatment and effective monitoring of the disease.
Additional director (health), department of animal husbandry, Dr NM Singh said the state is focusing on prevention. Cattle owners have been told to keep infected animal in isolation.
Singh said the infection spread does not pose a risk to humans. “There is no issue in consuming milk after boiling,” he said.