Virus outbreak threatens Cholistan camels

Over 1,100 of 11k tested animals show infection symptoms

LAHORE:

An outbreak of a flu-like infection among camels in the Cholistan desert has prompted an alert from the Punjab livestock authorities after causing the death of 10 animals and leaving more than 1,000 showing clinical symptoms.

The cases have been reported from the desert stretches of Sadiqabad and Kot Sabzal in Rahim Yar Khan district, where herders first raised concerns about sudden illness in their animals. According to them, infected camels initially develop cold-like symptoms, followed by high fever and episodes of collapse, often leading to death within hours. Owners say they are losing animals worth hundreds of thousands of rupees, threatening their only source of income.

Officials confirmed that, immediately after the first case surfaced, 14 rapid response teams and 18 mobile veterinary dispensaries were dispatched to the affected areas to provide emergency care, medication, and on-site clinical management. A total of 52 biological samples have been collected and sent to the National Institute of Health Sciences and a provincial diagnostic laboratory for confirmation.

Field teams are also monitoring 196 desert water points that serve as gathering spots for livestock.

According to the Punjab Livestock Department, more than 11,500 camels have been examined so far, of which 1,139 were found showing symptoms and were treated on the spot. The disease has been described as a flu-like viral outbreak causing nasal obstruction in camels.