Funds sought for developing LSD vaccine locally

Livestock dept says imported jabs to cost $2 per shot

KARACHI:

The Sindh livestock department has demanded Rs1.43 billion from Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah to develop a vaccine for the Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD).

A summary sent to CM Murad Ali Shah stated that eight million cattle in 10 districts could be affected by the disease. The cost of imported vaccine is $2 or almost Rs400, it said.

Sindh Institute of Animal Health Karachi, Livestock and Fisheries Department, Government of Sindh is the largest vaccine production facility in Pakistan and is capable to produce vaccine against this disease within the period of nine months.

The locally produced vaccine will be 10-times cheaper than the imported one and will continue to protect cattle from LSD in the future.

It is stated that the lumpy skin disease (LSD) that started from Africa after rapidly spreading to countries in the Middle East, Asia, and Eastern Europe was now affecting cattle in different areas of Pakistan as confirmed by the Federal Ministry of National Food Security and Research.

The disease initially reported from Jamshoro in November 2021, has now spread to more than 10 districts of Sindh affecting more than 20,000 cattle.

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Karachi and Thatta were the epicenter of the disease where more than 90% of infection is being reported. There is no treatment for the LSD virus and prevention by vaccination is the only way to control it.

The viral disease has relatively high mortality rates, dairy cattle in peak production especially cross bred and exotic ones are often the most severely affected with a marked decrease in milk production, abortions and in male cattle can result in loss of fertility for life time.

The farmers of Sindh are facing losses worth billions of rupees due to death and infection of cattle. If it is not controlled or prevented may play havoc with the livestock sector of Sindh.

It is estimated that there are more than 9.88 million cows and 10.97 million buffaloes in Sindh, that need urgent attention for prevention from the epidemic.

The summary stated that since the disease is currently spreading to only cattle, it is assumed by the experts that 30% to 40% of population of cattle may get affected, if preventive measures are not taken in timely manner.

Therefore, the document said it is planned to vaccinate at least 25% of cattle population of Sindh during first phase.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 15^th, 2022.