Lumpy Disease Outbreak in Meghalaya: Over 100 Died, 8000 Infected

SHILLONG: An official reported on Sunday that over 8,000 cows have been infected with lumpy skin disease (LSD) and that over 100 cows have perished in Meghalaya as a result of the ailment.

According to a representative of the veterinary health department, around 28,500 cows have received the disease-containment vaccine to date.

Since January 2023, over 230 pigs have died across the state as a result of African swine fever, according to the veterinary department official, who claimed that the disease is currently "contained" among pigs.

According to him, the Ri-Bhoi district reported the final pig to have perished as a result of the ASF on June 2. Since the virus was reported, fewer people in the state are eating beef and pork.

Cattle are susceptible to the viral illness lumpy skin disease. It is spread by ticks or other insects that feed on blood, such as some types of flies, mosquitoes, and ticks. It can result in the death of the cattle and produces fever and skin nodules. Humans cannot contract the Lumpy Skin Disease.

According to sources, 101 of the sick livestock have perished. 5884 cattle have recovered from the illness, though. However, up to 2192 cattle are currently receiving treatment for the virus.

The Meghalaya animal husbandry and veterinary department also reported that 28,595 animals have received the illness vaccine.

Recently, The Directorate of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services (AH&VS) has informed the public, dairy farmers, and cattle rearers that Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) has been positively identified from the nasal swabs and skin tissue samples submitted by Nagaland through PCR testing from the AADDMC, College of Veterinary Science, Khanapara, Guwahati.

The directorate confirmed the disease's existence after receiving a report from the College of Veterinary Science, Khanapara, Guwahati, that stated nasal swabs and skin tissue samples from the affected animals provided by Nagaland through PCR test showed positive.

Also Read: Assam’s Apurna Narzary Appointed as Captain of Women's Football team

Also Watch: