Epidemic kills 54 cattle, infects over 20,000
Workers at a cattle pen in Karachi show the animals infected by Lumpy Skin Disease that have been quarantined in a separate enclosure to prevent the spread of the disease. Photo: Express
At least 54 cattle heads have died and over 20,000 infected by the Lumpy Skin Disease, officials told a meeting chaired by Sindh Chief Secretary Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah on Tuesday.
The meeting, held at the Sindh Secretariat to review the LSD situation, decided to ban the movement of cattle from the affected areas, vaccinate animals, provide skin ointments to ease the pain of the ailing cows and bulls, and also carry out anti-mosquito spray at cattle pens to contain the vector borne epidemic.
Livestock Department secretary and director general and other officers concerned attended the meeting.
The livestock secretary said that LSD has appeared in animals in Punjab and Sindh. The disease has so far been found in 20,250 animals in the province including 15,100 in Karachi, 3,781 in Thatta, 149 in Hyderabad, 656 in Badin, 85 in Jamshoro, 121 in Khairpur, 91 in Sujawal and 2 in Tando Muhammad Khan, 64 in Matiari, 35 in Shaheed Benazirabad, 124 in Sanghar , 36 in Thana Bolakhan , four in Qambar Shahdad Kot and two in Dadu.
It was informed in the meeting that so far 54 animals have died in the province due to Lumpy Skin while 4751 animals have also recovered across the province. It was further informed in the meeting that this disease has been present in different countries of the world since 2012 and this year it has appeared in India, Iran and now Pakistan.
Chief Secretary Mumtaz Ali Shah issued directives to vaccinate the animals in the affected areas. He said the government should also provide skin ointments to animals and movement of cattle from the affected areas should also be stopped.
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He directed the livestock authorities to spray mosquito repellent in and around cattle farms with the help of district administration and also to provide awareness to the cattle owners about Lumpy Skin disease. Officials at the meeting said the disease was unlikely to be transmitted from animals to humans. The Livestock Department has also set up a helpline desk (0229201913) in Hyderabad.
Ban on animal markerts
The Sindh Local Government Department has put a ban on cattle markets owing to the spread of Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) which is specially found in cows.
In Sindh, the disease has been confirmed in Sanghar, Jamshoro, Sukkur, Mirpur Khas, Thatta, Hyderabad and Karachi districts. In view of the prevailing situation, establishment of cattle markets has been banned in the province.
Research Officer Sindh Local Government Department issued an emergency letter. The effects of LSD last for more than three months. Veterinary experts say that the first attack of LSD occurs on the whole body of the animal whereas the disease's second attack affects the animal's face.
Sources in Sindh Livestock Department said that no signs or reports of LDS were received in goats, lambs and other small animals.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 9th, 2022.