Assam: Cowherders Concerned Over Increasing Lumpy Virus In Cattle

GUWAHATI: Cowherders in Assam are worried about the Lumpy Virus, a skin condition that is rapidly spreading among their livestock.

There is concern over a huge number of cow deaths because the sickness has infected hundreds of animals.

The districts of Cachar, Hailakandi, and Karimganj in southern Assam's Barak Valley, as well as Kamrup and Barpeta, have all reported an outbreak of the viral lumpy skin disease (LSD), according to the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department.

2019 saw the initial discovery of the illness in Odisha, and since then, it has spread to other areas, including the Northeast.

Dairy farmers in Assam have requested government assistance to compensate for their losses as a result of the illness.

During the COVID-19 crisis last year, the virus also infected livestock, killing almost 17,000 domestic pigs.

The virus's spread emphasises the importance of maintaining vigilance and implementing preventive measures to keep the illness under control.

Around 97,000 cattle died between July and September 23, 2022, due to the outbreak of lumpy skin disease in India.

In three months, cattle in 15 states across India were afflicted, starting with epidemics in Gujarat and Rajasthan.

On September 21, more than 65% of the 18,50,000 cases were from Rajasthan. In Rajasthan, there were reportedly around 50,000 fatalities.

According to the most recent livestock census, India had 192.5 million cattle. Since 2019, Indian laboratories have been working on a homegrown vaccination. The Lumpi-ProvacInd launch took place in August 2022.

The vaccination has not been approved for use in an emergency. Public announcements and explanations have been made regarding the disease's effects on milk and meat, but not on humans.

A scientist from the Indian Council of Medical Research, a joint director of the Indian Veterinary Research Institute, and the head of the veterinary medicine department at a university in Punjab are among others who have made declarations in support of this.

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