Pant varsity spreads awareness about Lumpy Skin Disease – Times of India

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RUDRAPUR: Amid the spread of Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) in cattle in Uttarakhand, the GB Pant university of agriculture and technology (GBPUAT) in Pantnagar of district Udham Singh Nagar has come forward with a campaign to bring awareness among the livestock breeders and owners. The state so far has registered 1,300 cases of the disease, while 36 cattle have succumbed to the contagious disease.
Talking to TOI, the dean of the veterinary college in GBPUAT, Dr N S Jadaun said, “LSD is a contagious viral disease that affects cattle. It is transmitted by blood-feeding insects, certain species of flies and mosquitoes or ticks. It causes fever and nodules on the skin, and can also lead to death. It also spreads through cattle feed, their saliva, and contaminated water. The disease, which started in Zambia in Africa, has so far affected nearly 2 lakh cattle across the country, with it spreading in eight states and one union territory.”
Dr Jadaun said that the Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the best way to confirm the disease. “Samples of nasal and the oral slab or the skin peel are examined in this test. The cattle owners should immediately contact veterinary doctors if the symptoms are seen in their bovines. Entry of outsiders should be prohibited inside the cattle ranch and proper sanitisation should be done including foot bath before entering it,” he said, adding further that cattle older than three months should immediately be vaccinated with indigenous Lumpy Provakind or the Goat Pox vaccine.
The department is organising camps to bring awareness among the locals and safeguard their cattle. He also suggested feeding the cattle with heart-leaved moonseed, Indian gooseberry, and winter cherry (ashwagandha) to boost immunity of the cattle.
Dr Sarpreet Singh Thind, a local vet, said that India saw the first case of LSD in 2019 in eastern states especially West Bengal and Odisha. But this year, the disease has been reported in western and northern states as well. “LSD was first reported in Gujarat and it has spread to eight states/union territories now. Over 1.85 lakh cattle have been affected so far and more than 7,300 cattle have died since the outbreak of the disease in July. The infectious disease is caused by a virus called Poxviridae and it is also known as the Neethling virus. Some of the basic symptoms of LSD in cattle are enlarged lymph nodes, lumpy skin, fever and difficulty in movement,” Dr Singh added.
He also confirmed that the disease does not spread to humans, even if they are in contact with the sick cattle and the mortality rate of LSD is 1% to 2%.
Meanwhile, the veterinary department of the district has ordered 16,000 Goat Pox vaccines for the region. The chief veterinary officer, Dr AB Pandey said, “No case has been registered so far in the district but we are all set to face any outbreak of the deadly disease. We have written to the directorate and will soon be getting the demanded number of vaccines. We will not only vaccinate the cattle in the district but also in the nearby villages which come under Uttar Pradesh.”