Nagpur: Lumpy skin disease (LSD) has affected 673 cows in the state so far. Out of it, over half are from Akola which is the only district in Vidarbha where the disease has been officially reported. Other two districts are Ahmednagar and Jalgaon, said officials in the state’s animal husbandry department.
There have been 10 deaths due to LSD in the state, but none in Vidarbha. Dairy industry sources say there has been no tangible reduction in milk production, which indicates that the LSD numbers are low in the region.
The disease was reported in Bhandara and Gadchiroli districts in 2020 coming from southern states. This year as the incidence began from the northern states, the impact is not much in Maharashtra, say officials. In Punjab, Haryana or Himachal Pradesh, the number of affected cattle is running into thousands. Neighbouring states of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat have also reported LSD cases.
In LSD, the cattle develops nodules on its skin resembling lumps and gets high fever. The disease is not zoonotic, which means it does not spread to humans. Though it does affect milk production due to fever. Even if the milk of an affected cattle is consumed after enough boiling, it does not cause harm to humans, say experts.
However, the officials are advising cattle-rearers to avoid milking sick animals. Even otherwise, milking is not possible due to high fever in the cattle, said officials.
Dr Jagdish Bukhtare, deputy director of animal husbandry department at Akola, said the disease has been found in animals in 57 villages of the district. There have been no deaths and vaccination drive is being carried out in full swing. Over 7,000 cattle out of nearly 26,000 in the affected villages have been vaccinated so far. The department had a stock of over 35,000 doses of vaccines. Another 10,000 doses have been requisitioned, said another senior official.
The vaccine meant for goat pox, a similar disease found in goats, is being used for LSD. There is no clear vaccine specifically for the disease.
Nipani village in Akola is expected to be the epicentre of the disease in the region. The disease was first seen here when two bullocks were reported of having LSD. The vaccination drive undertaken during the last outbreak is expected to have built immunity due to which the numbers are low, say animal husbandry department officials.
There have been 10 deaths due to LSD in the state, but none in Vidarbha. Dairy industry sources say there has been no tangible reduction in milk production, which indicates that the LSD numbers are low in the region.
The disease was reported in Bhandara and Gadchiroli districts in 2020 coming from southern states. This year as the incidence began from the northern states, the impact is not much in Maharashtra, say officials. In Punjab, Haryana or Himachal Pradesh, the number of affected cattle is running into thousands. Neighbouring states of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat have also reported LSD cases.
In LSD, the cattle develops nodules on its skin resembling lumps and gets high fever. The disease is not zoonotic, which means it does not spread to humans. Though it does affect milk production due to fever. Even if the milk of an affected cattle is consumed after enough boiling, it does not cause harm to humans, say experts.
However, the officials are advising cattle-rearers to avoid milking sick animals. Even otherwise, milking is not possible due to high fever in the cattle, said officials.
Dr Jagdish Bukhtare, deputy director of animal husbandry department at Akola, said the disease has been found in animals in 57 villages of the district. There have been no deaths and vaccination drive is being carried out in full swing. Over 7,000 cattle out of nearly 26,000 in the affected villages have been vaccinated so far. The department had a stock of over 35,000 doses of vaccines. Another 10,000 doses have been requisitioned, said another senior official.
The vaccine meant for goat pox, a similar disease found in goats, is being used for LSD. There is no clear vaccine specifically for the disease.
Nipani village in Akola is expected to be the epicentre of the disease in the region. The disease was first seen here when two bullocks were reported of having LSD. The vaccination drive undertaken during the last outbreak is expected to have built immunity due to which the numbers are low, say animal husbandry department officials.