September 9, 2022

India calls for strengthening vaccination process as lumpy skin disease claims 57,000 cattle

Indian has asked the country's states to boost vaccination process to control lumpy skin disease (LSD), as the death toll of cattle from the disease hit 57,000.

Jatindra Nath Swain, Secretary of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, said 57,000 cattle have died so far and out of that, around 37,000 are in Rajasthan.

He said the centre has been regularly sending the advisories to affected states.

"Lumpy skin disease has spread in six to seven states, including Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. In Andhra Pradesh, some cases have been reported," Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Parshottam Rupala told reporters at a press conference.

Rupala said he has visited five states to assess the situation and oversee containment operations. The ministry is monitoring the situation daily. Rupala said the situation in Gujarat has improved, while the disease is under control in Punjab and Haryana. In Rajasthan, the disease has spread.

The minister asserted that the goat pox vaccine' is "very effective" in dealing with LSD. He added that there has not been any impact on milk production so far.

Rupala also said LSD can be controlled with an increase in vaccination and following the protocol for controlling and containing the disease. The minister told states to follow the protocol of burying dead cattle.

- Mint