Lumpy Skin Disease
Source : Indian Express
GS III : economics of animal-rearing
What is discussed under Lumpy Skin Disease ?
- About the Disease
- Prevention and Treatment
Why in News ?
3,000 cattle have died in Rajasthan and Gujarat due to a viral infection called the Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) that has spread across the states.
Key Facts
-
- The LSD epidemic started in Dwarka and Jamnagar districts.
- Procurement of cow milk has not been affected due to the LSD epidemic as the impact in terms of percentage or numbers of cattle affected is not big and timely measures have helped stem the epidemic.
- Preventive measures such as isolation and treatment of affected animals, vaccination, vector control on the premises and awareness were being taken.
- The disease has been endemic in most African countries, and since 2012 it has spread rapidly through the Middle East, Southeast Europe and West and Central Asia and not the first time LSD has been detected in India.
- The disease is not zoonotic, meaning it does not spread from animals to humans, and humans cannot get infected with it.
Lumpy Skin Disease
-
- LSD is caused by infection of cattle or water buffalo with the poxvirus Lumpy Skin Disease Virus (LSDV).
- According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), The mortality rate is less than 10%.
- Lumpy skin disease was first seen as an epidemic in Zambia in 1929. Initially, it was thought to be the result of either poisoning or hypersensitivity to insect bites.
- LSD infects cattle and water buffalo mainly through vectors such as blood-feeding insects.
- Infected animals immediately start losing weight and may have fever and lesions in the mouth, along with a reduced milk yield.
Other symptoms include excessive nasal and salivary secretion. - Prevention and Treatment
- Vaccination against these diseases is covered under the Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme of India.
- The only treatment available is supportive care of cattle.
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