Maharashtra: More than 93,000 cattle contract lumpy skin disease (LSD), What is lumpy skin disease?

An infectious viral disease called LUMPY Skin Disease (LSD) is fast spreading among cattle and bovine animals in some districts of Vidarbha and Marathwada in Maharashtra. The viral disease has created an atmosphere of panic among dairy farmers.

As per the reports of state Animal Husbandry department, so far 93,252 infections of the Capripox virus have been recorded in the state.

The viral disease was first detected in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra in April.

What is LUMPY Skin Disease (LSD) ?
The virus causes the development of stiff, round, cutaneous nodules of 2-5 cm in diameter on the skin of the animal, besides causing fever, lesions in the mouth and reduced milk production. The virus strain is said to have 20% morbidity and about 1 per cent mortality rate. 

Does the virus infects humans aswell?
The virus is not zoonotic and doesn’t infect humans through consumption of milk or meat. Though it affects the cow and buffalo, however, infection in the latter has been found to be minimal.

Check out below number of cases district wise as per Animal Husbandry department: 

Chandrapur- 50,419 cases
Nagpur - 12,296 cases 
Gondia - 8,150 cases
Vardha - 3,598 cases
Gadchiroli - 1,358 cases
Nanded - 13,136 cases
Parbhani - 2,182 cases

Of the 93,252 animals infected so far since April, 67,035 have recovered after giving medical attention. Dr Devendra Jadhav, deputy commissioner of Animal Husbandry (Disease Control), said the department has launched a massive vaccination programme and has so far inoculated 1.52 lakh animals with Goat Pox vaccine.

“Soon after the detection in Chandrapur, we had started a vaccination programme in Chandrapur, Gadchiroli and Nagpur. We have 4.5 lakh vaccination doses available with us. Whenever an infection is detected, we are sending the vaccine to inoculate the healthy animals to contain the spread,” said Jadhav.