June 22, 2023

Lumpy skin disease threatens Bangladeshi cattle industry Ahead of Eid al-Adha

Cattle lumpy skin disease (LSD) has been spreading across multiple districts in Bangladesh, resulting in deaths among cows, posing a significant threat to the cattle industry ahead of Eid al-Adha, The Financial Express reported.

Over the past two and a half months, the disease has claimed the lives of 200-250 cattle in Sylhet, 20-25 in Barguna, and seven to eight in Netrokona.

Reports indicate that cattle in Mymensingh, Jashore, and Sherpur have also been infected with this viral disease, which is transmitted by blood-feeding insects like flies, mosquitoes, and ticks.

LSD manifests as fever and the development of nodules on the skin. It can prove fatal, especially in animals that have not been previously exposed to the virus. Infected cattle may experience oedematous swelling in their limbs and exhibit lameness.

Affected livestock often suffer permanent damage to their skin, which lowers the commercial value of their hide. The disease leads to chronic debility, reduced milk production, poor growth, infertility, abortion, and in some cases, death.

LSD was first observed in imported cattle in Bangladesh about a decade ago and has been spreading over the past five years, officials from the country’s Department of Livestock Services said. Animals infected with LSD cannot be slaughtered for meat, and Islamic practices also prohibit the sacrifice of sick or injured animals.

Prevention measures include regular vaccination of cattle, protecting them from insect bites, and keeping them away from infected cows. But vaccines are often not readily available in Bangladesh, exacerbating the challenges in managing the disease. Unfortunately, there is no direct antiviral treatment for lumpy skin disease.

Farmers in Netrokona have reported a high number of LSD infections among cows. The local office of the Department of Livestock Services revealed that approximately 42,000 cows, accounting for 7% of the district's 600,000 cows, have been infected in the past two months.

-      The Financial Express