No Consumption Or Selling Of Cattle, Says Meghalaya Government Amid Lumpy Skin Disease Outbreak

Animal and Husbandry Minister of Meghalaya AL Hek revealed that a total of 60 cattle in the state have been affected by the Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) within the past week.?

The government has thus emphasized that meat and milk from cattle infected with the disease should not be consumed or sold.?

Cattled affected with Lumpy skin disease/ BCCL

The disease has also spread to the States of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland.In Arunachal Pradesh, the transportation and slaughter of cows and buffalos was banned by Animal Husbandry, Veterinary & Dairy Development Commissioner Bidol Tayeng on Monday.?

What is Lumpy Skin Disease??

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is caused by the lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV), which belongs to the genus Capripoxvirus and is part of the family of viruses that cause smallpox and monkeypox.?It is a contagious vector-borne disease spread by vectors like mosquitoes, some biting flies, and ticks and usually affects host animals like cows and water buffaloes.?

United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has said that infected animals shed the virus through oral and nasal secretions, which may contaminate common feeding and water troughs. Thus, other than direct contact with the vector, the disease can also spread through contaminated fodder and water.?

Infected animal?

LSD causes the lymph nodes of the infected cattle to enlarge and appear like lumps on the skin. These may appear on the infected cattle’s head, neck, limbs, udder, genitalia, and perineum, which can later turn into ulcers.?

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The cattle may suffer from high fever, sharp drops in milk yield, discharge from the eyes and nose, salivation, loss of appetite, depression, damaged hides, emaciation (thinness or weakness) of animals, infertility and abortions.?

Implications of the disease?

LSD is not a zoonotic virus, meaning the disease cannot spread to humans, and studies have not been able to ascertain the presence of viable and infectious LSDV virus in milk derived from the infected animal.?

However, to err on the side of caution, Dr Manjunatha C, Secretary to the Department of Animal Husbandry Ministry, said that precautions should be taken to prevent the consumption of contaminated products.?

Worst affected?

Infected cattle have a reduced milk production as the animal becomes weak and also loses appetite due to mouth ulceration. It can also result in poor growth, reduced draught power capacity and reproductive problems.

Collection of Nasal swab from Lumpy Skin Disease(LSD) suspect animals under Animal Health Camp conducted by KVK South Garo Hills, Meghalaya/ Twitter

So this disease affects the cattle farmers economically, leading to income losses.?

Control measures?

The Meghalaya government urged farmers to contact the rapid response teams of the veterinary department through the helpline number for disinfection of affected premises and treatment of infected animals.Also recommended is the controlling of mosquitos and flies in cattle sheds through the use of repellents.?

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