Lumpy skin disease is dangerous and affected more than 20,000 cattle, Minister Livestock Sindh

Sindh Livestock Minister Abdul Bari Pitafi has said that Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) is a dangerous disease. The disease has so far spread to 20,000 animals, 15,000 animals have become ill at Karachi, while 30% animals have recovered.

Talking to media, Abdul Bari Pitafi said that the animals infected with disease are isolated. The first case of the virus came in November 2020. On emergence of first new, we had sent samples for testing.

Federal government issued a notification on 3 March 2020, which was confirmed on 4 Mar 2020, Later on we started motivating the people about the disease.

Provincial minister of livestock said that import of vaccine for the disease it is difficult, moreover, this vaccine has to be used very carefully as the virus is transmitted from one animal to another.

The disease was emerged for the first time in South Africa.

The provincial minister said that so far 20000 cattle have been affected from the virus, while 15,000 animals belong to Karachi moreover, 30% animals are recovering.

Provincial minister said that the disease is spreading rapidly among the animals however; leadership of Sindh province has taken notice.

Talking about precautionary measures, Minister Live Stock said that mosquito repellent sprays should be used as much as possible. In this regard, the provincial government has written a letter to the Municipal Commissioner, the cattle farms will be sprayed as much as possible.

Sindh Government has asked federal government for permission to import vaccines. DRAP is also been coordinated, the minister said.

Abdul Bari Pitafi said that farmers of Sindh should not be worried; so far 67 animals have expired within the province, Moreover Sindh government taking serious step to eradicating the disease and will import its vaccine as soon as possible.

It is reported that an important meeting was held under chairmanship of Chief Secretary Mumtaz Ali Shah, which was attended by Secretary and Director General Livestock.

During meeting, Secretary Livestock said that Lumpy Skin Disease has been detected in cattle of Punjab and Sindh.

LSD has so far killed 54 animals. The disease affecting more than 20,000 animals of the sick animals and more than 15,000 are in Karachi only. While 4751 animals infected with the virus have recovered across the province

The disease has so far been surfaced in 20,250 animals of Sindh province which include 15,100 in Karachi, 3,781 in Thatta, 149 in Hyderabad, 656 in Badin, 85 in Jamshoro, 121 in Khairpur and 91 in Sijawal. There are 64 in Matiari, 35 in Shaheed Benazirabad, 124 in Sanghar, 36 in Thana Bola Khan, 4 in Qambar Shahdad Kot and 2 each in Tando MuhammadKhan and Dadu.

It was informed in the meeting that this disease has been present in different countries of the world since 2012 and this year it has appeared in India, Iran and now Pakistan.

During the meeting, the Chief Secretary decided to launch a vaccination campaign in the affected areas and directed the Livestock Department to vaccinate the infected animals.

He said that besides vaccination of animals, other skin medicines should also be given to cattle and transportation of animals from affected areas should also be stopped.

The Chief Secretary directed the livestock authorities to spray mosquito repellent in and around the cattle farms in collaboration with the district administration and also to provide awareness to the cattle owners about the disease.

Officials at the meeting said the disease is unlikely to be transmitted from animals to humans.

Livestock Department has also established helpline desk (0229201913) at Hyderabad.

It is pertinent to mention that outbreak of the disease since last week has caused unrest and chaos among cattle farmers; especially cattle farm owners in Karachi's main cattle market.

According to dairy farmers, the condition of animals infected with the disease is deteriorating day by day, which in some cases is leading to animal deaths.