Rajasthan Suffers Lumpy Skin Disease, Govt. In Action

Infection spread among 25,000 cattle in 3 months

Jodhpur/ Rajasthan: The state is combating a contagious lumpy skin disease that has become a bane for thousands of cattle herders in western and northern Rajasthan, where nearly 1,200 bovines have perished to the disease which is spreading at an unrelenting speed in the region.

Taking notes from the Animal husbandry department, the officials said the infection has spread among nearly 25,000 cattle in three months.

In the Jodhpur district, 254 cattle succumbed to the disease in the past two weeks drawing the animal husbandry department's attention.

While considering the severe spread of the infection, the department has mobilized teams of doctors in the affected areas and has advised the cattle herders to keep their cattle isolated to shield them from getting infected.

BJP MLA from Raniwara (Jalore) Narayan Singh Dewal has requested the state government to step up its efforts to contain the spread of the infection.

The animal husbandry department has said that the disease which originated in Africa came to India via Pakistan in April.

“Initially, the infection was there in the border districts like Jaisalmer and Barmer but this has now spread to Jodhpur, Jalore, Nagaur, Bikaner, Hanumangarh and other districts in the region,” Dr Arvind Jaitelay, Deputy Director (Disease Control), Animal Husbandry department, told PTI in Jaipur. "Our teams are already working in the affected areas.”

He said that the disease is mainly affecting cows, particularly the indigenous ones and close to 25,000 bovines have been affected so far.

Moreover, the doctor added, “Infection is rapidly spreading in cows having low immunity. Because of low immunity, other diseases attack and the animal dies."

He said that there is no treatment or vaccine for lump disease and treatment is given as per symptoms. The primary symptoms are a pox on the skin, high fever, and a runny nose.

“We have mobilised our teams of veterinarians in the affected villages. They have been camping in the villages and providing treatment to the infected cattle”, said Joint Director (Animal Husbandry)- Jodhpur Sanjay Singhvi.

The disease has also had a severe economic impact.

Areas like Phalodi, Osian, Baap, and Lohawat, among others, in Jodhpur have hundreds of cattle already infected.