Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) has been linked to numerous animal deaths in several states and UT’s of the country and it has raised serious concerns. It has infected around 11.25 lakh cattle and caused nearly 57,000 deaths in 165 districts in the 12 States of the country.
Amid Lumpi’s devastation, a heart-breaking picture has emerged from Rajasthan’s Bikaner showing a field of dead bodies in the desert. The shocking pictures have emerged from Bikaner’s Jodbid dumping yard, where thousands of cow carcasses are claimed to be lying in the yard spreading in an area of up to 5km.
If we talk about the statistics of Bikaner, more than 6,000 cows are under the control of Lumpi in Bikaner city alone. After the image went viral, the Municipal Corporation has come into action and the corporation is saying that every year a contract is given to remove the carcasses of dead animals but currently there are no workers due to Ramdebra and Punsar Mela, so there is no need for skinning.
Jounalist Shubhankar Mishra’s twitter post:
लाशों के मैदान बने राजस्थान के रेगिस्तान
– लंपी वायरस से तकरीबन 57, 000 गायों की मौत। सबसे ज्यादा 37 हजार मौतें राजस्थान में।
– गुजरात, राजस्थान, पंजाब, हरियाणा और उत्तर प्रदेश में फैला वायरस|
– अब तक 11 लाख से अधिक पशु इससे संक्रमित|
हैरानी होती है कि इस ख़बर पर कहीं शोर नहीं। pic.twitter.com/TD1el37rIz
— Shubhankar Mishra (@shubhankrmishra) September 9, 2022
What is Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD)?
Lumpy Skin Disease, also called LSD, is an emerging threat to the livestock world. It is caused by Lumpy Skin Disease Virus (LSDV), a virus from the family Poxviridae, genus Capripoxvirus. As per World Organisation for Animal Health, Sheeppox and goatpox viruses are the two other virus species in this genus.
Symptoms & Treatment
The infectious disease is brought on by the poxviridae virus, also referred as Neethling virus. Enlarged Lymph nodes, lumpy skin, and trouble moving are a few of basic signs of the illness in cattle. The other symptoms include fever, discharge from the eyes and nose, excess salivation and reduced milk production etc.
On August 10, 2022, the Indegenous Lumpi- ProVac vaccine was introduced by Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmer, Narendra Singh Tomar to safeguard livestock against Lumpy Skin Disease. The National Equine Research Centre in Hisar, Haryana, and the Indian Veterinary Research Institute in Izzatnagar, Bareilly, jointly produce the vaccine.
Can Humans Get Infected with LSD?
Medical professionals have revealed that even if people come into contact with such cattle, the disease does not transmit to people whereas animals can be healed of sickness, but the virus can still harm the milk from such an animal.
