Lumpy Skin Disease in Cattle: Take immediate steps in affected areas

Fisheries and livestock ministry yesterday asked the department of livestock to take necessary steps immediately to stop the spread of lumpy skin diseases in cattle, which is characterised by nodules on the skin. The disease has spread at some parts of Dinajpur.

The ministry in a letter asked to form medical teams for every infected union headed by an upazila veterinary officer or a veterinary surgeon or livestock extension officer, said an official of fisheries at livestock ministry.

The team should also comprise a deputy assistant livestock officer or veterinary field assistant or a field assistant, the letter asked.

Lumpy skin disease is an infectious disease in cattle caused by a virus of the family proxviridae, also known as Neethling virus. The disease is characterised by fever, enlarged superficial lymph nodes and multiple nodules on the skin and mucous membranes.

The ministry directed the teams to ensure necessary treatments to the infected cattle after visiting the infected areas.

The ministry also asked divisional and district livestock officials to monitor the field level activities of the medical teams.

Around 250 cattle were infected by the disease this year, mainly carried by flies or mosquitoes at three Upazilas of Dinajpur — Sadar, Khansama and Bochaganj, said Director General of Department of Livestock Dr Abdul Zabbar Shikdar.

Urging cattle owners to not panic, the DG said early intervention can cure the disease easily.

He said if a cattle owner cleans the infected areas with potash and uses a particular ointment afterwards, the disease will be cured within two to three days.

Dr Zabbar said their livestock workers are employed at the field level to help cattle owners.

He said he had talked to three farmers on Wednesday who have around 110 cows and almost all the infected cows have been cured. The DG suggested the cattle owners to use mosquito net as mosquito and flies are carriers.

Zabbar said the drugs are available and they are also providing vaccine so that new cattle cannot be infected.

The livestock department DG also said first outbreak of the disease happened in some upazilas of the country in Chhattogram and Bhola last year.

Entomologist of Jahangirnagar University Kabirul Bashar said the disease is primarily transmitted by mosquitoes, flies and ticks.

He said owners will have to isolate the infected cattle, wash the animals, then put ointments on the sore spots.

He said if proper caring are not taken, a cattle can died of the disease.

The disease has dramatic effect on rural livelihoods, which are often strongly dependent on livestock. The disease can slash milk production and may lead to sterility in bulls and fertility problems in females, Bashar said.