Punjab prepares vaccine against lumpy skin disease

In the light of the spread of the lumpy skin disease in Sindh, veterinary experts in Punjab have prepared a vaccine with “successful results” to stop the possible spread of the virus in the province.

Veterinary Research Institute Director Dr Sajjad Hussain told The Express Tribune that the first case of the virus was detected in October last year in Sindh after which Punjab started preparations to ward off the threat.

The infection rate of the virus in animals is 90 per cent whereas the mortality rate is up to five per cent, the expert said.

The symptoms of the virus are fever, reduced milk production, and skin protuberances along with loss of appetite.

Dr Hussain said the authorities vaccinated cattle in at least 10 dairy farms across Mirpur Khas, Hyderabad, and Karachi with successful results.

About the presence of "zero cases" in Punjab, he said the virus could not travel from Sindh to Punjab because Punjab hardly imports any livestock from Sindh. However, the staff of the livestock department was deployed along the border of Sindh and Punjab to keep the virus at bay.

It may be noted here that the Ministry of National Food Security and Research Livestock Wing of the federal government through a letter last week had confirmed that lumpy skin disease had been confirmed in selected areas of Sindh and South Punjab and issued certain guidelines to control it.

Besides Karachi, the disease was being reported from Thatta, Jamshoro, Mirpurkhas, Hyderabad, Khairpur, Sanghar, Sukkur, and Nawabshah, the press release had said.