After Sindh, cases of lumpy skin disease have begun spreading among cows and calves in Rahim Yar Khan district, located at the Sindh-Punjab-Balochistan border, and in adjoining areas of Cholistan.
Despite dozens of reported cases livestock farmers are being forced to buy costly vaccines due to the absence of government-supplied doses. The majority of cases have been reported in villages including Chak 196-1-L, Chak 93-1-L, Chak 251-1-L, Chak 159-7-R, Sheikh Bhatta Bagho, Bagho Bahar, Ahmadpur Lamma Ranjha Khan, Kot Sabzal, Chowk Bahadurpur, Tib Chauhan, Head Fareed and several other localities.
According to veterinary experts, lumpy skin disease causes painful nodules or swellings on the skin of cattle, leading to fever, loss of appetite, weakness, and a sharp decline in milk production. Infected animals also develop visible marks on their meat, rendering it unfit for consumption.
The disease was first reported in Pakistan in 2022, when it spread from imported cattle, inflicting heavy losses on farmers. In the latest outbreak, cases have also surfaced in Pakpattan, Lodhran, and Khanewal districts besides Rahim Yar Khan.
Three months ago, thousands of cattle in Punjab were affected by foot-and-mouth disease.
Meanwhile, the livestock department has issued an alert to protect animals from the disease but has been slow in ensuring vaccine supply.
Authorities have also decided to set up inter-provincial checkpoints to prevent the movement of infected cattle into Punjab.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ