Lumpy skin disease spreads in and around Vehari

Over 250 animals affected in 20 localities

VEHARI:

Lumpy skin virus has spread among cattle in and around Vehari. Hundreds of animals have reportedly been affected by the disease and dozens of them killed.

The livestock department claims to have vaccinated 15,000 animals in the area, but several cattle owners claimed of unavailability of the vaccine.

A cattle owner, Javed Iqbal said the virus had spread in Vehari city and adjoining areas, including Joyanwala, Abbas Town, Bhagwanpura and other villages. He said dozens of animals had been killed due to the virus.

Another local cattle owner alleged that the livestock department had started vaccinating the animals of influential landowners for free, while others were told that the vaccine was not available.

"We have repeatedly asked the officers and doctors of the department to check our animals but they have not come so far," he alleged.

A farmer said the owners were getting their animals vaccinated after paying fees.

"Our livelihood depends on animals, but the local administration is not listening to us," he said. The farmers also revealed that butchers were selling meat of sick animals at low prices.

However, Vehari Livestock Director Rai Zakir Ali said more than 17,000 animals had been vaccinated in the district to prevent the lumpy skin disease. He told The Express Tribune that the lumpy skin virus had been found at 20 places in the district.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 9^th, 2022.